Polar Plunge winners named

They collected the pledges. They braved the cold water. They arrived from all over, dressed up in costumes. These are the plungers who participated in Special Olympics North Dakota’s Law Enforcement Torch Run 3rd Annual Polar Plunge, conducted by local law enforcement volunteers in Jamestown on Feb. 14.

Nearly 50 people raised more than $10,000 for Special Olympics North Dakota. While they all were rewarded with T-shirts and goodies, a few of them won sought-after awards. The winners are:

Best Costume: Terry Hovland, Wimbledon, and Jarad Johnson and Jacob Miller, Jamestown.

Oldest Plunger: Jerry Bohnsack, Jamestown earned this title for the second year.

Youngest Plunger Award: The 2009 Youngest Plunger was 12-year-old Cody Montgomery from Jamestown.

Most Money Raised: The most money raised at the Polar Plunge is divided into a King and Queen category. The King of the 2009 Polar Plunge is Ted Cowardin, Jamestown, raising $620; The Queen, for the second year in a row, is Donna Kastet, Ypsilanti. She raised $1,935 for Special Olympics.

Judges for the event were Clarice Liechty, mayor of Jamestown; Frank Jensen, Domino’s Pizza, Stutsman County Deputy Sheriff Liz Kapp and Tim Burchill, Ave Maria Village nursing home.

All proceeds from the 2009 Polar Plunge benefit Special Olympics North Dakota. SOND is a non-profit organization that promotes understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. Throughout the year, SOND provides year-round physical fitness, sports training, recreation and competition in 15 sports to children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Tags: polar plunge, community, fund, raising