KARLA SHIRVANIAN | staff writer

For the first annual Polar Plunge hosted by Shire East and Shire West in the University Park pool, cold weather was working against those that decided to race, but no one was complaining.

The designed event to raise money for Lifewater International, an organization that drills wells in foreign countries and provides clean water for those that would otherwise not have access to it, brought out many people. People came to race, watch, and donate.

“This event provides an avenue for students to use what little they have to come together and do something cool for the greater,” Shire West Resident Director Kelly Schlenz said.

Water jugs were set out for people to bring their change. Each jug had a name on it and the person with the most money was to take a plunge into the pool at the end of the event. It was between Chris Adams, Jamie Noling, Jon Wallace, Woody Morwood, and Shino Simons. Yet from the beginning it was a close race between Jon Wallace and Woody Morwood.

Another way of raising money was through the relay itself. Each team that signed up paid a $12 buy in, all going toward Lifewater. The final team won four lift tickets and several other prizes.

Five teams of four decided to get in the frigid water of the UP pool. The teams competed in three rounds on Tuesday, each with two people on each side of the pool. The first event had each person on the team eat an otterpop before swimming across the pool.

The second round had teammates exchange floaties between team members before swimming and pushing a block of ice across the length of the pool. The top two teams went to the final round.

The final round had one person swim across on a boogie board to the other side of the pool where they picked up a teammate. This continued until all four teammates were on the board. The team that was completely out of the pool with their board won, making the team “Burnt Toast” the champions.

There were also personal competitions where individual people could win prizes. The first was a belly flop contest. Three contestants were brave enough to step up. The second was a breathing test, where whoever swam the longest underwater won. In the end, the winner made it across the pool twice, passing the other participant’s mark by a few feet.

The Shire event was not a single effort by any one person or office. Instead, it was a great collaborative effort between the different offices and organizations.

“We’ve had a lot of support from different groups. From UP for letting us use their facilities, Alumni and Communiversity donated prizes, the Campus Pastors office is working closely with us because they are going to be available to take the plunge. ASB also worked closely with us,” Schlenz said.

It was a true commitment by the participants that had more than swimming on their agenda.

“Good bonding between roommates and friends and what better way to support a good cause,” sophomore communication studies major Linnea Swenson said.

There was not only an excitement among the students but there was also among faculty and spectators, even those that agreed to take the plunge.

“I was really excited what they were raising money for. It is so exciting that students are finding creative ways to not only goof off with each other but to look out for other people,” campus pastor Woody Morwood said.

The final tally had Jon Wallace with $110.53 and Woody Morwood with $116.37. Woody remained true to his word and took the plunge. The event accomplished what it set out to do, bringing in over $400 for Lifewater International.