Pocahontas resident Jeff Luft and Fort Dodge Senior High School sophomore Cobey Applegate have been selected to participate in “The Survivor Games,” a YouTube show that is airing for its second season this summer. They were two of eight who have been picked to be dropped on an island in the Bahamas with just their clothes.

Both brothers have shown great excitement, not only for the games, but for the trip as well.

“I know this will be challenging, but I see it as a break,” Luft said before the two departed for the Bahamas.

While Luft has already applied to be on other survival game shows, he said, “It’s not something I thought I’d get into, but these seem exciting.”

An opportunity like this doesn’t come around very often, so these two plan on taking full advantage of it.

“It makes me feel good representing my community there,” Luft said. “I don’t know anyone from around here that has done something like this.”

Both of them welcome any challenge that will be thrown their way, with Applegate saying, “They told us this season will be a lot different than the last one. I hope they challenge us — no point in going if they don’t.”

The brothers were left on the island Friday and will remain there through June 27 to complete several challenges that will test their strength, endurance, and pure survival instinct.

“I really have just been making sure I remember everything, honestly,” Applegate said when asked about his preparation, “It’s not really training as much as it is honing in my skills.”

Those skills will be needed if they want to win the $1,000 grand prize.

Both spend much of their time outside, but they find very few activities to be more enjoyable than free diving. Diving without a tank can be very dangerous, but it can also teach you many things.

“I started free diving during my time in Jamaica because it was the only way I could spearfish,” Luft said. “I started taking Cobey with when I came back here, and he can already hold his breath for over five minutes.”

Being brothers, they have some similar experiences.

“We have wrestling backgrounds and free dive together,” said Applegate. “We’re fine with not eating because of wrestling.”

Being brothers, they also have a deep-rooted connection, but it wasn’t always that way. Luft is 41 and Applegate is 15, a very large age gap that prevented Applegate from getting to see his older brother growing up.

“It means a lot more doing it with him,” Applegate said, “I didn’t really get to see him, so I love that we’ve gotten closer.”