Lewes Polar Bear Club takes the 2023 plunge

The plungers take off for the Jan. 1 plunge at Cape Henlopen State Park. DAN COOK PHOTOS

Dan Cook

January 2, 2023

Nearly 75 Polar Bears braved a balmy 47-degree Atlantic Ocean to welcome 2023 in the traditional New Year’s Day plunge at Cape Henlopen State Park.

Polar Bears taking the plunge were Avary, Carly, Zane, Luca, JD and Connie Miller; Keith Ricker; Mia and Clinton Watts; Cannon, Bill and Raelee Lingo; Kevin Rough; Brett Leffet; Jeff and Jordan Kurtz; Ben Summers; Mike, Maisie and Sawyer MacGowan; Cory and Gabe Wideman; Mason Woodyard; Bob Hughes; Bill Clark; Annabella, Heather, Joey and Joe Baray; Sue, Jack, Suzannah, Lina, Meredith, James and Will Frederick; Chip Davis; Jack and Tessa Lingo; Rich, Amanda and Gus Lantz; Pat Backus, Mike and Chase Sanchez; Chris Gill; Cheleste, Adam, Porter and Averie Marvin; Samantha, Hank and Max Coveleski; Dan and Annabelle Mazur; Cole Conrad; Joey Cahill; Bryan and Greg Mack; Bruce Egolf; Lindsay, Alysia and Mark D’Ambrogi; Karen Zakarian; Charlie Burton; Monique Bamforth; and Jackie Lapenta.

The Lewes Polar Bear Plunge was started in 1982. The group plunges the first Sunday of every month from November through March, except January, which is always held on New Year’s Day.

Nearly 75 Polar Bears jumped into the 47-degree Atlantic Ocean to welcome 2023.

Veteran Lewes Polar Bears who have plunged more than 30 years are (l-r) Chip Davis, Connie Miller and Bruce Egolf.

The Lewes Polar Bear Club Plunge was started in 1982 by a group headed up by Dave “Fredman” Frederick. Frederick’s family plunges every year. They are (l-r) Susan, Meredith, Lina, Jack, James, Suzannah and Will.