Deep Freeze Dip raises more than $40,000 for splash pad -- not including matching grant

The Worthington Regional Healthcare Association will match the total up to $50,000. With nearly $100,000 in its possession, Worthington Noon Kiwanis will now ask the city to pay for the rest in hopes of having the project done this year.

“We’re going to go to the city council and say, ‘Look how much we’ve raised and let’s see if we can get this thing done right away,’” said RadioWorks’ Chad Cummings, host of the event.

This year’s Deep Freeze Dip had a jovial atmosphere and a large crowd of more than 100 spectators. That’s probably because it was the warmest day in the event’s history. The weather — 42 degrees and sunny — was much more welcoming than the usual below-freezing wind tunnel Worthingtonians expect this time of year.

But that doesn’t mean the water wasn’t cold. Participants were quick to confirm that it was indeed cold with comments such as “Oh, oh, oh that’s cold!” and “Sweet baby Jesus!”

Each dipper had to raise at least $250 to be bestowed the honor of jumping into a hole in a freezing lake. And plenty raised more.

First State Bank Southwest’s team — featuring three courageous representatives — went far above the call of duty, raising $5,000.

Several dippers were convinced to jump on behalf of JBS, accounting for another couple of thousand dollars toward the total goal.

Teresa Widboom’s team, named “Splashin’ with Passion,” featured nine members in total. Most of the team members wore custom shirts — designed by Vieng Harvey of Kustom Threads and Embroidery — except for Joe Vander Kooi, who donned a cow outfit and took six laps in the ice-cold water.

Three people from Cuero, Texas — two of whom wore “Hold my beer and watch this” T-shirts — took a dip as well. Cuero’s Darren Martin, unironically wearing a Dallas Cowboys hat, took a dip for his second-straight year.

Minnesota West had four representatives, including president Terry Gaalswyk, who professed his support for the splash pad project. Minnesota West students Joa Ortiz and Micheine Morales, both from Puerto Rico, experienced their first time on a frozen lake and in frigid water.

Josh McCuen took a dip while dressed in Minnesota Vikings gear and tight jean shorts — Amy Benson donated quite a bit of money to make that happen, he said — while Diane Brisbin  jumped in a grey duck costume, after reprimanding those who play “duck, duck, goose” rather than the proper “duck, duck, grey duck.”

Andrew Titus leaped in for his fifth straight year, and as usual, did so in a full suit, tie and dress pants. Mark Tiesler, who underwent a successful liver transplant in June, encouraged everyone to become organ donors before starting a massive “Skol” chant. He then, like those before him, proceeded to jump into the freezing lake.

Cummings, before making a large splash with a belly-flop and officially ending the event, thanked everyone who donated to the cause — and announced the Deep Freeze Dip has raised more than $250,000 toward various causes in nine years.

“The best part, in all the years we’ve been doing it, is we’ve had local people commit to doing really crazy things like jumping in a frozen lake — and raising money in order to do it,” he said.

To see photos from this event, see Wednesday's print edition and check back at dglobe.com.