Even the frigid temperatures of Longview Lake didn’t keep swimmers away from the annual Polar Plunge fundraiser, sponsored by Special Olympics Missouri. On January 30, students braved sub-freezing temperatures as they plunged into Longview Lake alongside hundreds of other Polar Plunge participants. All of this effort will provide year-round sports and training opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

   The LHS Student Council hosted their own fundraiser to raise money for the Polar Plunge.

   “Our overall school goal was a thousand dollars,” StuCo adviser Melanie Crawford said. “We hosted a school-wide fundraiser that took place the week of January 25.”

   This may seem hard to believe, but Polar Plungers had many things to look forward to about the plunge.

   “I enjoyed seeing all the different levels of people that showed up,” senior Orrin Donaldson said. “Some people go out in like full body swimsuits, others in speedos. Some people there have done it before and you can tell. It was fun to see people’s reactions when they jumped in for the first time.”

   This wasn’t the first time for some students to participate in the Plunge.

   “I went to Polar Plunge back in junior high,” senior Alex Kretsinger said. “I remember running in the lake and we had to reach a certain point in the water and then run back out. They had a heated tent afterwards which was probably my favorite part.”

   StuCo president Desirae Leeson participated in the Polar Plunge in years past.

   “I participated twice as an eighth grader and ninth grader,” Leeson said. “The water was extremely cold. By the time I was walking out of the water I could only feel my legs burning and I was almost in tears, but it was a fun experience and a great charitable activity.”

   After participating this year, Student Council hopes to make Polar Plunge a yearly event for the high school.

   “StuCo wanted Polar Plunge to become an annual event several years ago when we first participated,” Crawford said. “This year we really ran with it. We talk about it every year but it just doesn’t end up coming together. There are schools that have huge groups and participation so it’d be cool if Liberty could be like that.”

   After having gone to Polar Plunge in the past, Crawford has some advice for future plungers.

   “I would say make sure you bring an extra change of clothes,” she said.

“Bring a towel and some warm clothes to put on afterwards. Oddly, I think that probably the fewer clothes you wear into the water, the better. It’s probably not the best idea to wear sweatpants thinking that they’re going to keep you warm because  they’ll end up getting drenched.”

   StuCo members encourage everyone to participate in the Polar Plunge next year.

   “I hope Polar Plunge becomes an annual event for the high school,” Kretsinger said. “All the proceeds go towards a great cause and Special Olympics deserves more recognition.”

   Even if students are not interested in plunging, they are encouraged to support the event in the future.

   “It really is a fun experience,” Crawford said. “Even if you don’t want to plunge, just come and check it out. You can’t go wrong supporting Special Olympics.”