(St. Joseph) The 10th Annual Polar Plunge on Feb. 20 at St. Joseph was a splashing success, raising $40,712 to-date.

A total of 171 men and women from around the area donned costumes and swimwear to take a chilly dip into Lake Contrary. Their Reason for Freezin’… the athletes of Special Olympics Missouri!

Top fundraisers included the following:
Individual:
1st Place – Katie Lyle, $3,249
2nd Place – April Hook, $2,857
3rd Place – James Runde, $1,768

Group:
1st Place – Tanner’s Troops, $4,629
2nd Place – Welcome to the Jungle, $3,392
3rd Place – Lollipop Guild, $3,027

School:
1st Place – Bishop LeBlond High School, $3,062
2nd Place – Lathrop Middle School, $1,675
3rd Place – Savannah Middle School, $1,585

Top College – NWMSU, $650

Law Enforcement Team – Maryville Treatment Center, $2,143

Competition for the Golden Plunger was steep this year. Participants were encouraged to come in costume and compete for the chance to take home the “golden plunger.”

Individual Winners:
1st Place – James Runde, “Jesus”
2nd Place – Roland Gibson, “Jungle Man”
3rd Place – Noah Bonner, “Superman”

Group Winners:
1st Place – Welcome to the Jungle (PCS), “Jungle Animals”
2nd Place – Chillicothe High School, “Princesses”
3rd Place – Savannah High School, “Penguins”