Rockwall triathletes take Polar Plunge into Lake Ray Hubbard today to benefit YMCA

ROCKWALL, TX (Jan. 16, 2022) Members of the Rockwall Triathlon Club, a local group comprising more than 100 endurance athletes, gathered this morning at the Rockwall Harbor lighthouse to take a Polar Plunge into the chilly waters of Lake Ray Hubbard.

With temperatures in the low 30s and a north wind, the “feels like temp” was 27 degrees at the time of the jump, around 10:30 a.m. The water temperature was estimated to be about 53 degrees.

Jill Knight, Rockwall Triathlon’s past president and current event planner, said the club loves doing “wild and crazy things.”

“Many of us swim at the YMCA and we got to talking about how much fun a Polar Plunge would be,” Knight said. “We decided to come out here to The Harbor, do something fun – like a bucket list item – and it could serve as an interactive fundraiser, rather than just donating money.”

Mark Zabolotny, the club’s president, explained that the club regularly participates in “giving projects” in which they donate to a local charity. The Polar Plunge raised more than $1200 for the JER Chilton YMCA’s Annual Campaign, which helps ensure every family has access to YMCA’s services and programs regardless of their financial situation.

The swimmers went two-by-two into the water, some doing cannonballs and others jumping with rubber ducks and pink flamingo inflatables. “Plunging two at a time helps avoid a bottleneck at the ladder trying to get out,” Knight explained. Some athletes, like Zabolotny, chose to do a few strokes while in the water, to help with their training.

“It was a win-win situation for everybody – our club and the Y,” Knight said. Members of the YMCA were present to support the group and serve as lifeguards for the event.

The Rockwall Triathlon Club is in its sixth year, and brings together athletes of all abilities with the goal of improving performance and enriching enjoyment of the sport through teamwork, encouragement and building community. To learn more, visit their website or request to join their Facebook group.

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