February 2, 2019

'The Greatest Plunge on Earth'

Scenes from the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

Jacob Wiegand, Tyler Graef

Contestants participate in the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. Proceeds from the event benefit athletes of the Special Olympics. 

Contestants participate in the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

Logan Gardner of Sikeston plays with a camera before the start of the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

Kameron Long of Cape Girardeau waits for the start of the the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

A polar bear waits by the side of Lake Boutin before the start of the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

Contestants participate in the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

Kendall Holweg, a freshman at Delta High School, emerges from the water during the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

Plungers have their picture taken with a polar bear while participating in the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

Plungers make their way back after exiting Lake Boutin while participating in the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

Ethan Tucker, a junior at Poplar Bluff High School, does backflips to warm up on the beach before the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

Dominique Hardimon, a student at Poplar Bluff High School, wraps himself in a towel on the beach before the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

Preston Clark of Cape Girardeau, 10, throws up his arms after getting out of the water during the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park. Proceeds from the event benefit athletes of the Special Olympics.

John Weber, Delta High School student council sponsor, hands out smurf-themed signs before the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

Ben Buckus, left, and Jeff Crites, of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, prepare to oversee participants before the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

Contestants from the "Cop-sicles" plunge team, comprised of Cape Girardeau Police and dressed as circus entertainers, play on the beach before the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

Contestants from the "Cop-sicles" plunge team, comprised of Cape Girardeau Police and dressed as circus entertainers, jump in the lake during the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

A participant turns back toward shore during the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

Contestants participate in the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

Ben Buckus of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department is seen during the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019. "I'm becoming a landmark," he said, as participants began high-fiving him before turning back to shore.

Contestants participate in the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

A participant high-fives Ben Buckus of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department during the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

Jeff Crites, of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department, exits the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

Delta High School students Brooke Coomer, left, and Karlee Beggs make their way back to shore while participating in the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

Contestants participate in the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

Raychel Jarrett, originally of Sikeston and now Scott City, has makeup applied by Rachel O'Shea of Cape Girardeau before participating in the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

Rachel O'Shea of Cape Girardeau helps Raychel Jarrett, originally of Sikeston and now Scott City, with her makeup before participating in the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

Contestants participate in the Polar Plunge at Lake Boutin in Trail of Tears State Park Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

Logan Gardner of Sikeston gets behind the wheel before the start of the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

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Scenes from the 13th annual Polar Plunge aka "The Greatest Plunge on Earth" on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Lake Boutin at Trail of Tears State Park.

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