Annual Plunge raises funds for Special Olympics Ohio

January 25, 2015 at 12:07a.m.

BAZETTA

Air temperature — 28 degrees? No problem. Water temperature — 32 degrees? Bring it on.

A spirited turnout estimated at 150 ignored those elements and rushed into the frigid waters of Mosquito Lake on Saturday afternoon for the Ninth Annual Mosquito Lake Polar Plunge to raise funds for Special Olympics Ohio.

Brett Clingan of Champion was the first to take the plunge while the crowd watched in admiration, for good reason. Clingan, 43, said he has leukodystrophy, a neurological disorder of the brain, and uses a wheelchair. Clad in swimming trucks, he was removed from his motorized chair and helped

into the water by volunteers from the Bazetta Fire Department. After he deliberately rolled in the water and went under for a few moments, the volunteers helped Clingan return to his wheelchair. He raised his arms in victory to boisterous applause from the other participants and onlookers.

“It’s called ‘Polar Plunge’ for a reason, and I think I surprised people by going underwater,” said Clingan, a military veteran. “I think it was refreshing.”

Each adult is required to raise at least $75 and students $50 before jumping in the lake. The fundraisers did much better than that. Paige Ludwig, marketing and development director of Special Olympics Ohio, estimated Saturday’s revenue at “between $25,000 and $30,000.” Ludwig said the turnout was significantly higher than last year.

“We’re really happy,” she said.

Many came in costume, such as Melanie Woofter of Cortland, dressed in a blue gown as the princess from — appropriately — “Frozen.”

“If I was going to do something like jump in the lake, I might as well go all-out crazy,” said Woofter, 44, a physical-fitness trainer, who bought the gown at a thrift shop.

A nine-member team from Great Lakes Cheese in Geauga County wore large cutouts of Swiss cheese on their heads, reminiscent of Green Bay Packers fans. The plunge was nothing new for several team members who hit the freezing water last year. One team member, Jeff Sharpe of Niles, decided to take it one step further.

“I’m actually doing two plunges today,” said Sharpe, who wore a Ninja Turtle outfit underneath his cheese costume. “My daughter’s team [from the Trumbull Career and Technical Center] is dressed as the Avengers, so I’m going in the water with them, too.” Her team, “The Super Heroes,” won the group costume contest before the plunge.

There was nothing elaborate about the costume worn by “Speedo Man,” which is what Tom Hrdy of Garrettsville calls himself. It was probably the skimpiest. Clad only in bikini-brief swimming trucks and a straw hat, Hrdy, 56, removed the hat and fearlessly put his entire body under the water, albeit briefly.

“I’ve worked with the developmentally disabled for years, and I do this for them,” said Hrdy, a six-year veteran of Polar Plunge.

Organizers said it took more than two hours for volunteers to cut through 8 inches of ice in the frozen lake by the park’s beach. The water was shallow and did not rise above the knees of the jumpers. Four fire-department members stayed in the water the entire time in case anyone needed help.

The Mosquito Lake event is the first of nine Polar Plunges being sponsored by Special Olympics Ohio throughout the state.