Pie Eyed Petey's Breaks Record For Annual Polar Bear Plunge
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
The event is a fundraiser for the North Webster and Syracuse food pantries. Pie Eyed’s co-owners, Roy and Barb Hamer, said they wouldn’t have a total for the monetary and food donations until today or Tuesday.
Sign-up began at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the jumps scheduled for 1 p.m. By 11:20 a.m., only 47 people had signed up.
“It’s a pretty day, a sunny day. I’m just waiting for the next Polar Vortex,” Barb said at that time, noting it was still early.
Though the air seemed to get colder as the day wore on, the participants kept coming. By 11:54 a.m., there were 77 registered, with 105 by 12:14 p.m.
Brett Nelson and Mike Motes, both of Chicago, have taken part in the Polar Plunge every year. This year, Brett brought his daughter, Amanda Nelson, who was celebrating her birthday all weekend, and her boyfriend, Travis Yoakum, of Kankakee, Ill.
Costumes are a part of the annual Plunge, and Brett and Motes wear different costumes every year. This year, they “tried” dressing up as the members of the Village People.
“We tried to be the Village People,” Brett said. But he said other people who were supposed to take part and dress up as the other Village People backed out at the last minute.
“We just put it out there. We put it on Facebook that we’re looking for suggestions. We do something different every year,” Brett stated.
Yoakum and Amanda were dressed in camouflage, representing the military guy from the Village People. Yoakum said, “I got invited on Facebook. I couldn’t say no.”
“Dad is holding me against my will,” Amanda joked.
Karen Wolken, Leesburg, and Amber Hardy, Syracuse, dressed up as nurses for the event.
“We are nurses. That’s like the only reason. We represent nurses,” Wolken said.
This is the first time the two friends have participated.
“We are starting new chapters in our lives,” Wolken said. “I hope I don’t face plant, slip or dive. I would be embarrassed if I had to be rescued by the EMTs.”
Hardy said that’s because they know all the EMTs. She also said Wolken talked her into it.
Seth Allen, Warsaw, painted his body green to be The Incredible Hulk. The only clothing he had on were shoes and a pair of cut-off jeans.
“It stands out,” he said.
There were two women dressed up as Supergirl. The first was Rebecca Noggle, Warsaw, who took part in the Plunge for the second year.
“I wish I had done it all five years. It’s a good thing. It’s a charity event. I support this. This has my approval,” Noggle said.
She was plunging with some of her Zimmer co-workers and personal friends, she said. Last year, they went into the water in their prom dresses. This year, one of her friends wore a viking costume, while the other went as Michael Jackson.
“It’s so spur-of-the-moment,” Noggle said. “We need to plan it better.”
The other Supergirl Saturday was Chanda “Malicious Chula” Rodriguez, one of about 15 Lake City Roller Dolls taking the plunge. This was the second year the group took part.
“We have a lot of new girls, but a lot did jump last year. We’re donating money to the cause and collected food,” Rodriguez said.
For their theme the roller derby team dressed as superheroes, Rodriguez said.
Coach Bobbie “Dyrtie Gyrtie” Tevis said, “We use roller derby as a tool to help people less fortunate than us.”
According to Laura Cooper, the Warsaw-based Dolls brought a donation of $141 and 231 non-perishable food items for the food pantries.
Earl Beezley, Syracuse, jumped in for the first time because his brother, Jimmy Adams, talked him into it. Both wore the same pink shirt and had “Happy Birthday Mom” written on their chests.
“It’s our mom’s birthday,” Adams said.
Friends Dustin Cloud, Milford, and Travis Shepler, Syracuse, wore Teletubbies headpieces and bikinis for their run into the water.
“Why not?” Cloud said. “I just want to drink beer and look like a fool. This is my first year. If I had known it would be this awesome, this would have been my ninth year.”
Thomas Seymour, Warsaw, was taking part for the first time Saturday, and was going in with a group of five friends.
“For the experience,” he said. “Just to say that I could do it, that I did it. I was going to come as Cyclops, but it was too late to get a costume, but next year I will.”
In his second year, Warsaw’s Jack Miller said the experience “is a lot of fun, craziness.” He didn’t have any real plan but to just go with it. He was with friends, but he was the only one jumping in.
“I couldn’t get anyone else to jump with me,” Miller said.
Also in his second year, Tony Siebeneck, Warsaw, said peer pressure brought him back.
“It got to a point where I wanted to do it but I realized what the weather was like and I didn’t want to, but peer pressure,” Siebeneck explained.
Siebeneck was with a group of six jumpers, including Amanda Downing, Warsaw.
“I just like jumping in the cold water. I’m excited for the benefits of doing this and it helps a good cause,” Downing said.
Perhaps one of the youngest participants was Chris Baker, Pierceton. Having just turned 18, he took part for the first time Saturday.
He said he wanted to do it “just for fun and the donation.”
His mom, Andrea Baker, was too chicken to go in with him, she said. “He’s done crazier things,” she admitted.
After the plunge, Chris said it was cold. “It was fun. I’m ready for round two,” he said.
After Nick Wilson, Warsaw, came out of the water and dried off, he said, “I thought it was amazing. It wasn’t as bad as I expected and I will be back next year. The water was warmer than the air so it wasn’t bad.”
Candice Brown, North Webster, said, “It was good. It wasn’t as bad as I thought, except my feet are freezing.”
The North Webster EMS and Kosciusko County Dive Team were on hand for the event. According to the Dive Team, the water was 26 degrees. That was warmer than the air temperature of around 19 degrees.
After all the plunges were over, Barb Hamer said, “I’m very happy with the turnout. We had a nice turnout. The Dive Team did a good job for us. The Roller Dolls did a good job for us.”
Roy Hamer said the people at the event were a nice group and were very polite.
“It’s just a good time,” Barb said. “In the words of Jacqueline Kennedy, it takes a lot of effort to make it look effortless.”
“Every year we get more volunteers and that really helps,” Roy noted.
“They got up early to shovel snow and break the ice,” Barb said. “I really admire the people who jump in this time of year. Anyone can jump in in July.”[[In-content Ad]]
The event is a fundraiser for the North Webster and Syracuse food pantries. Pie Eyed’s co-owners, Roy and Barb Hamer, said they wouldn’t have a total for the monetary and food donations until today or Tuesday.
Sign-up began at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the jumps scheduled for 1 p.m. By 11:20 a.m., only 47 people had signed up.
“It’s a pretty day, a sunny day. I’m just waiting for the next Polar Vortex,” Barb said at that time, noting it was still early.
Though the air seemed to get colder as the day wore on, the participants kept coming. By 11:54 a.m., there were 77 registered, with 105 by 12:14 p.m.
Brett Nelson and Mike Motes, both of Chicago, have taken part in the Polar Plunge every year. This year, Brett brought his daughter, Amanda Nelson, who was celebrating her birthday all weekend, and her boyfriend, Travis Yoakum, of Kankakee, Ill.
Costumes are a part of the annual Plunge, and Brett and Motes wear different costumes every year. This year, they “tried” dressing up as the members of the Village People.
“We tried to be the Village People,” Brett said. But he said other people who were supposed to take part and dress up as the other Village People backed out at the last minute.
“We just put it out there. We put it on Facebook that we’re looking for suggestions. We do something different every year,” Brett stated.
Yoakum and Amanda were dressed in camouflage, representing the military guy from the Village People. Yoakum said, “I got invited on Facebook. I couldn’t say no.”
“Dad is holding me against my will,” Amanda joked.
Karen Wolken, Leesburg, and Amber Hardy, Syracuse, dressed up as nurses for the event.
“We are nurses. That’s like the only reason. We represent nurses,” Wolken said.
This is the first time the two friends have participated.
“We are starting new chapters in our lives,” Wolken said. “I hope I don’t face plant, slip or dive. I would be embarrassed if I had to be rescued by the EMTs.”
Hardy said that’s because they know all the EMTs. She also said Wolken talked her into it.
Seth Allen, Warsaw, painted his body green to be The Incredible Hulk. The only clothing he had on were shoes and a pair of cut-off jeans.
“It stands out,” he said.
There were two women dressed up as Supergirl. The first was Rebecca Noggle, Warsaw, who took part in the Plunge for the second year.
“I wish I had done it all five years. It’s a good thing. It’s a charity event. I support this. This has my approval,” Noggle said.
She was plunging with some of her Zimmer co-workers and personal friends, she said. Last year, they went into the water in their prom dresses. This year, one of her friends wore a viking costume, while the other went as Michael Jackson.
“It’s so spur-of-the-moment,” Noggle said. “We need to plan it better.”
The other Supergirl Saturday was Chanda “Malicious Chula” Rodriguez, one of about 15 Lake City Roller Dolls taking the plunge. This was the second year the group took part.
“We have a lot of new girls, but a lot did jump last year. We’re donating money to the cause and collected food,” Rodriguez said.
For their theme the roller derby team dressed as superheroes, Rodriguez said.
Coach Bobbie “Dyrtie Gyrtie” Tevis said, “We use roller derby as a tool to help people less fortunate than us.”
According to Laura Cooper, the Warsaw-based Dolls brought a donation of $141 and 231 non-perishable food items for the food pantries.
Earl Beezley, Syracuse, jumped in for the first time because his brother, Jimmy Adams, talked him into it. Both wore the same pink shirt and had “Happy Birthday Mom” written on their chests.
“It’s our mom’s birthday,” Adams said.
Friends Dustin Cloud, Milford, and Travis Shepler, Syracuse, wore Teletubbies headpieces and bikinis for their run into the water.
“Why not?” Cloud said. “I just want to drink beer and look like a fool. This is my first year. If I had known it would be this awesome, this would have been my ninth year.”
Thomas Seymour, Warsaw, was taking part for the first time Saturday, and was going in with a group of five friends.
“For the experience,” he said. “Just to say that I could do it, that I did it. I was going to come as Cyclops, but it was too late to get a costume, but next year I will.”
In his second year, Warsaw’s Jack Miller said the experience “is a lot of fun, craziness.” He didn’t have any real plan but to just go with it. He was with friends, but he was the only one jumping in.
“I couldn’t get anyone else to jump with me,” Miller said.
Also in his second year, Tony Siebeneck, Warsaw, said peer pressure brought him back.
“It got to a point where I wanted to do it but I realized what the weather was like and I didn’t want to, but peer pressure,” Siebeneck explained.
Siebeneck was with a group of six jumpers, including Amanda Downing, Warsaw.
“I just like jumping in the cold water. I’m excited for the benefits of doing this and it helps a good cause,” Downing said.
Perhaps one of the youngest participants was Chris Baker, Pierceton. Having just turned 18, he took part for the first time Saturday.
He said he wanted to do it “just for fun and the donation.”
His mom, Andrea Baker, was too chicken to go in with him, she said. “He’s done crazier things,” she admitted.
After the plunge, Chris said it was cold. “It was fun. I’m ready for round two,” he said.
After Nick Wilson, Warsaw, came out of the water and dried off, he said, “I thought it was amazing. It wasn’t as bad as I expected and I will be back next year. The water was warmer than the air so it wasn’t bad.”
Candice Brown, North Webster, said, “It was good. It wasn’t as bad as I thought, except my feet are freezing.”
The North Webster EMS and Kosciusko County Dive Team were on hand for the event. According to the Dive Team, the water was 26 degrees. That was warmer than the air temperature of around 19 degrees.
After all the plunges were over, Barb Hamer said, “I’m very happy with the turnout. We had a nice turnout. The Dive Team did a good job for us. The Roller Dolls did a good job for us.”
Roy Hamer said the people at the event were a nice group and were very polite.
“It’s just a good time,” Barb said. “In the words of Jacqueline Kennedy, it takes a lot of effort to make it look effortless.”
“Every year we get more volunteers and that really helps,” Roy noted.
“They got up early to shovel snow and break the ice,” Barb said. “I really admire the people who jump in this time of year. Anyone can jump in in July.”[[In-content Ad]]
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