FIRST ON WGIL: Record Year for Polar Plunge at Lake Storey -- PICTURES AND WINNERS HERE

POSTED 11:16pm 2/28/10 The sun was out, but if you'll forgive the expression, in a respect, Sunday was no day at the beach. The annual Law Enforcement Torch Run's Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics at Lake Storey Sunday. Organizers say it was the largest plunge for them yet -- one of several that happened statewide -- with nearly nearly 250 people willing to shed some of their pride and take a dip into Lake Storey as a result of their raising funds. Galesburg Police Captain Lindsey May was one of an annual contingent of officers from the Galesburg, Macomb, and Moline Police Departments that went in, and tells WGIL the weather conditions were cold but ideal, but were almost too good. "(The good weather) has made the beach a little hazardous, because it's sort of soggy," May said. "We scraped some of the snow off. We probably should have left it. Now...it's just a pretty muddy mess." But most of the plungers -- some in costume and some not -- didn't seem to think about that by the time they plunged in and got out of the part of Lake Storey where city crews broke up the ice. Most of their feelings ranged from "My feet are numb" to "I can't feel my feet." Organizers say nearly $30,000 was raised this year -- nearly $3,000 more than last year, and all of which helps to send local athletes to the Special Olympics later this year. POLAR PLUNGE WINNERS AND RESULTS TOTAL RAISED: $29,941 "GOLDEN PLUNGER AWARD" (Most money raised): Nick Vasquez, $1,041 "SILVER PLUNGER AWARD" (Second most money raised): Mark Thomas, $1,000 "BRONZE PLUNGER AWARD" (Third most money raised): D.J. Johnson: $825 BEST COSTUME 1st: "Guys in Drag" -- Mark & Andrew Thomas 2nd: "Shark Man" -- Pure Rock, 92.7FM "The Laser" 3rd: "Frog Boy" -- The Corner Connection OLDEST PLUNGER: Chad McKenna YOUNGEST PLUNGER: Andrew Thomas MOST MONEY RAISED BY A TEAM: The Corner Connection, $5,750 2nd PLACE: Beta Theta Pi Xi, $4,779 3rd PLACE: IL Beta Delta Chapter of Pi Beta Pi, $2,515 217 plungers signed up, but final participant numbers weren't available. (Results source: Special Olympics Area Four) (Members of the Galesburg Police Dive team stayed in the water for safety reasons Sunday throughout the Polar Plunge.) (Participants in the Polar Plunge line Lake Storey Beach Sunday.) (Knox County Coroner Mark Thomas, right, and his son Andrew plunge in drag Sunday.) (Mark and Andrew Thomas receive their "Golden Plunger Award" for Best Costume.) (The "Rocksicles" from Galesburg Broadcasting Company Station Pure Rock 92.7FM The Laser take their turn in the icy Lake Storey waters.) (A group of Knox College students take the plunge Sunday.) (Nick Vasquez collects the "Golden Plunger Award" for the individual who raised the most money, collecting $1,041. WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.)

02 28 10 by Newsroom

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