[PHOTOSTORY 1: OUTDOORS] THE POLAR BEAR PLUNGE

 By: Kyra Dorsey 

The RAC hosts the annual Polar Plunge in the outdoor pool. About 30 people showed up for the event.

The water lies still as people slowly trickle in for the plunge. The event started at 6 p.m. and the staff wanted to wait for the temperature to drop a little before letting everyone jump in.

Freshman finance major Kinsley Rhodes (left) and freshman human development and family science major Wheatley Neatherlin contemplate whether to jump or not. They both ended up in the hot tub instead.

The polar bear mascot starts his stroll around the pool area. He served as the hype man for the night.

 The Campus Recreation and Intramural's staff starts to set up the hot chocolate for event participants. They also had pizza and ingredients to make s’mores.

Freshman political science major Patricia Allen (left) and freshman pre-med major Destiney Mitchell (right) sit in the beach chairs and discuss the temperature of the water. They only came for the hot chocolate and pizza.

 Sophomore civil engineer Max Low is one of the two lifeguards on duty for the night. He did have to switch stations later on in the night and served as a designated limbo stick holder. 

 More event participants arrive and decide to warm up in the hot tub first. This seemed to help them gather the courage to participate in the plunge. 

 As even more people arrive at the event, it becomes clear that a lot of people came for free pizza. But there were a few courageous individuals who took the leap. 

After the sunsets, the event participants line up for the main event, the Polar Bear Plunge. This was plunge number one of the night. 

Immediately after the first plunge, a majority of participants scurry to the hot tub. Several participants stayed in the hot tub after the first plunge.

Later on, CRI staff members Spencer Youngblood (left) and Carly White (right) start to get the limbo stick ready. They had eight rounds of limbo in total. 

Several of the plunge participants join the limbo line. But only one was able to win. 

Junior history and sociology major Sophie Baylad comes close to beating the last round of limbo. She ended up winning second place. 

Freshman biology major Marques Reed makes his attempt at the final round. He ended up victorious.

Limbo wraps up and it's time for the second plunge of the night. Several people decided to sit this one out.

Plunge participants shiver in the aftermath of the cold water. A majority of them quickly went back to the hot tub to warm up.

Brave souls stay behind and discuss playing water basketball. They ended up only staying in the water for five minutes.

The last event of the night starts shortly after the plunge, a frozen t-shirt contest. Participants were given a frozen t-shirt in a Ziploc bag and whoever got the shirt on first won.

 Ultimately, freshman psychology major Maddie Vorbelle wins the contest. The night ended with steady waters and all participants showing what it means to “stay true to the blue.”