Dressed in costumes inspired by The Price is Right, Lucas Kruse and Denise Larson leaped into Lake Washington as part of Saturday’s Penguin Plunge.

The water wasn’t actually the coldest part of the experience, they said.

Kruse felt colder waiting to jump, while Larson thought the most shocking part was feeling the cold air again afterward.

“The water was actually kind of nice,” Kruse said.

Larson agreed, calling the dip “refreshing.”

They were among 62 people braving cold water during the annual plunge, part of a fundraiser supporting the Mankato Family YMCA. Many jumping pairs dressed up in themed costumes, from Kruse and Larson’s game-show garb to Wicked to tropical wear.

The costume contest makes the event especially festive, said Dustin Slaughter, the YMCA’s director of youth development. He jumped in the first group of the day, after helping organize the event.

Slaughter was pleased to see it rise from 34 jumpers last year to nearly double this time around.

The Penguin Plunge started as a way to support YMCA’s youth camps. Money raised now goes to support the YMCA’s overall programming.

Before participants jump, onlookers hear about what led them to sign up for the challenge.

In all cases the people had a tie to the YMCA, whether through working there, knowing someone who did or using its programming.

“It’s been awesome to hear why it matters to each person, because it’s always different,” Slaughter said.

Larson heard about the event because she works at the YMCA. It was her first time taking the plunge, with fellow newcomer Kruse happy to join her.

“It’s fun to have an activity instead of just donating,” Larson said. “It gets people together.”

Grace Maloney and Chaise Hansen dressed as Elphaba and Glinda from Wicked for the occasion. Both have worked and/or volunteers on YMCA programming, and it was their third time doing the Penguin Plunge — Wicked costumes following previous Trolls and tie dye themes.

Their first plunge was coldest, they recalled. Then last year teams had to run into the water because the ice wasn’t thick enough.

 

On Saturday participants could jump through a square of open water cut through the lake’s thick ice. You’ve got to brace yourself for the water, Maloney said.

“It’s an excited anxious,” she said of the feeling before going into the lake.

Having company helps, Hansen said.

“There’s so many people doing it so the atmosphere is good,” she said.

After the jump, participants could warm up in mobile saunas. Lunch was back on shore at Westwood Marina.

The fundraiser brought in about $22,000 for the YMCA as of Saturday afternoon.

 

 

By: Brian Arola
Pictures by Brian Arola
This story originally appeared in the Mankato Free Press on Sunday, February 9th, 2025