Sabres Take The Polar Plunge

Courtesy of Marian University

FOND DU LAC, Wis. -- The Marian University women's soccer team soaked up the enticing Wisconsin winter weather and took the plunge in participating in the Polar Plunge for Special Olympics "Freezin' For A Reason" this past weekend in Oshkosh.

The Sabre soccer ballers dove into the frigid waters of Lake Winnebago off the shores of Menominee Park in an effort to raise money for children and adults with disabilities to afford them the opportunity to participate in the Wisconsin Special Olympics.

"It was a fun way to raise money for such a great cause," sophomore defender Rhyah Jungwirth said. "Special Olympics do great things for the community and we wanted to be a part of it and chip in as much as we could."

According to their website, specialolympics.org, the Polar Plunge has raised over $14 million since its inception in 1999, allowing children and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics to develop improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence and a more positive self-image.

"The whole team gained so much from participating in the plunge," Jungwirth added. "We saw the entire Marian community pull together and help us raise money. People who weren't even on the team continually asked us how they could contribute. The whole plunge process turned out to be great team bonding for all of us and it took a complete team effort to reach our goal."

About Special Olympics Wisconsin:

Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) is a statewide organization providing persons with intellectual disabilities year-round sports training and competition. Individuals who are at least eight years old and are identified as having a intellectual disability are eligible for participation.

With seven Regional offices throughout the state, Special Olympics Wisconsin serves nearly 10,000 athletes in nearly 189 communities statewide. SOWI is one of the 52 state programs and one of nearly 170 countries providing this opportunity to nearly 4 million athletes around the world.