In spite of the cold and drizzle, 32 team members showed up to John F. Kennedy Memorial Park wearing T-shirts or jerseys from each of the 32 NFL teams to raise money for the Special Olympics in honor of Brent Oberhelman.

Oberhelman’s mom Judy Oberhelman, of Renwick, got the idea from her son’s love of everything football related.

“It’s such a good cause,” Judy Oberhelman said. “I’ve been a Special Olympics coach for 20 years now. He’ll be 28 in May. It’s his 20th year of being in it.”

As the faux football players charged down the beach to brave the cold water, Brent Oberhelman stood at the sidelines in a referee uniform, cheering his teammates on with a whistle.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
Brent Oberhelman, of Renwick, a Special Olympics competitor, watches as the team his mom organized representing all 32 NFL teams braves the frigid water at Badger Lake to raise money for the Special Olympics. Brent’s love of football inspired the team theme, and teammates said they were doing it for him.

Brent’s team may have been one of the largest, but his friends had a lot of company in the other polar plungers.

In all, about 70 to 80 people made it into the lake this year, said Mary Besler, Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run event coordinator. Organizers said the event raised around $10,000, an increase from last year.

What motivates someone to jump into the cold water?

For some, it’s a personal connection.

“I’d only ever do it for Brent,” said Megan Anliker, dressed in a Miami jersey, who said it was her first time taking part. “We grew up together. We went to church together since we moved to town, since I was 5. We played together.”

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
Polar Plunge or Mario Kart? Fort Dodge Senior High Student Senate members made it a little of both with their Nintendo costumes Sunday afternoon. Seen here are Derek Haugland, advisor to the Dodger Senate students as the Lakitu who oversees the race, Anthony Wagner as Toad, Antavion Adams as Diddy Kong, Ty Williamson as Waluigi, Jacob Cook as Luigi, Luke Vaughn as a question mark box, and Chloe Cathcart as a red Pac-Man ghost.

Deb Stalzer had done it before, and was feeling a little apprehensive.

“I stepped in a mud puddle and it was so cold,” she said when she first arrived indoors, before the plunge.

So what’s it like in the water?

“It’s the adrenaline — you just go and get it done,” Stalzer said. “It’s so cold, it’s like piranhas are going ‘E e e e e e’ — it’s like pins and needles.”

“I’m excited,” Anliker said. “I’m ready to do it.”

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
Members of the Facing Autism team run to the lake in various capes and other hero attire. Facing Autism team members are Janel Lincoln, Heidi Smith, Amy Terry, Brandi Peters, and Amanda Milham.

Fort Dodge’s Facing Autism group had an entry for the first time this year.

Facing Autism provides events for kids with autism and their families, but also for children with a variety of needs.

“Some of our kids have been in Special Olympics, and we support Special Olympics as well,” said Janel Lincoln, group co-director. “We just wanted to support the cause.”

Doug Wilk is one of a few plungers who have made it to every Polar Plunge over 10 years. He went in the lake this Sunday as the one-man team from the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility.

Another set of familiar faces was the Fort Dodge Senior High Student Senate team — this time, in video game costumes inspired by Mario Kart.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
It was a super plunge Sunday, as 32 volunteers formed a team wearing jerseys from all 32 NFL teams to take part in the annual Polar Plunge benefitting Special Olympics at Badger Lake at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park. Special Olympian Brent Oberhelmen, a huge football fan, and his mom Judy Oberhelman, of Renwick, put together the team.