Swimmers flock to the Yough for annual New Year鈥檚 Day polar bear plunge
Hundreds of brrrr-ave swimmers flocked to Yough River Park in Connellsville to ring in the New Year Wednesday with an icy dip into the Youghiogheny River as part of 21st annual Polar Bear Plunge.
Swimmers clad in shorts and T-shirts, Speedos, wet suits, Santa hats, crocs, water shoes, tennis shoes, and other apparel assembled at the park at 10:45 a.m. for a photo, before running, jumping and diving into the frigid waters at exactly 11 a.m.
The air temperature was 34 degrees and the water temp was about 39 degrees when the dippers made their way into the water.
鈥淚鈥檝e done it every year for probably the past 14 years. It鈥檚 an adrenaline rush. I love it,鈥� said Lois Watts, a nurse who brought along a group of friends that included first-time Polar Bear Plunge participants.
鈥淲e鈥檙e Polar Bear Plunge virgins, baby!鈥� joked Rebecca Sleppy, a friend and co-worker of Watts. 鈥淚t was a great experience. I and several coworkers faced our fears of jumping into freezing water to benefit charity.鈥�
The swimmers were greeted with cheers and encouragement from onlookers as they made their way back to the banks of the Yough and wrapped themselves in warm blankets and towels.
Emergency personnel and rescue teams patrolled the water in boats and on shore.
Fayette EMS passed out hot chocolate, and warming tents and a bonfire were set up to warm plungers.
The plunge benefited a good cause: participants brought nonperishable food items to donate to the Connellsville Area Community Ministries food pantry.
Chris Huey of Connellsville arrived at the river bank with his family 鈥� including his wife, their two children, his nieces, and his mother 鈥� for what has become a family tradition.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been doing this for 10 years. It鈥檚 our way of starting the new year off right. You feel really good when you get out,鈥� said Huey.
Vaughn Neill of Greensburg was invited by a group of friends to join them for the plunge five years ago, and he has shown up every year since.
Clad in a neon yellow 2022 Polar Bear Plunge shirt and sipping a cup of coffee, Neill was looking forward to wading into the frigid water.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way to start off the new year,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 usually run into friends here. This year, someone begged off due to sickness, and there鈥檚 always impending old age looming, but I like doing it.鈥�
First-time plungers Chris Povirk and his daughter, Lisa Povirk, participated in the plunge in memory of Chris Povirk鈥檚 son, James, who passed away in 2023.
鈥淢y son did the plunge before and I never did it with him, so this year we wanted to do it in his memory,鈥� said Povirk, as he and Lisa warmed themselves by the bonfire after they climbed out of the water.
Simone and Joe Cooley of Connellsville brought their sons, Joey, 8 and Styles, 7, for the family鈥檚 first dip in the Yough.
Joey couldn鈥檛 wait to get into the water (鈥淚鈥檓 going to dunk my whole head in!鈥� he said), but Styles decided to sit the plunge out.
鈥淭he Cooleys moved to the area two years ago and were intrigued when they learned about the annual New Year鈥檚 Day plunge.
鈥淲e saw it on Facebook and said, 鈥楾hat looks cool, let鈥檚 do it,鈥� said Simone Cooley. 鈥淛oey was so excited to do it. It鈥檚 the coolest way to start the new year and a cool tradition.鈥�
Organizer Frank Jacobyansky, one of the founders of the club, was happy with the turnout and the weather.
鈥淚 often ponder myself why we still do this, but we can鈥檛 stop now because everybody expects us to do it,鈥� said Jacobyansky with a laugh. 鈥淲e do this because it鈥檚 good for the community and it brings people together. It鈥檚 a good thing.鈥�