Team Goodfellow goes swimming

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert Smith
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
SAN ANGELO, Texas --  Goodfellow's Outdoor Recreation Camp hosted the annual Polar Bear Plunge Feb, 9.

A chance to jump in the 46 degree water of Lake Nasworthy brought service members, family and friends together for a good time. Some of the plungers had interesting strategies.

"I'm not going for speed; I'm going for stamina," said Airman First Class Joshua Edwards, 17th Training Wing Public Affairs. "I'm going to try and see if I can stay in the water longer than everyone else."

Edwards wasn't the only one participating in this year's plunge.

"This is one of those things you just jump in and do it," said Airman Basic Chance Pettey, 316th Training Squadron student. "That's one of my philosophies; just do it."

Pettey, a West Virginia native is no stranger to this event. "I've done this back home in West Virginia, it was much colder and there was slush in the pond."

One way participants showed enthusiasm was with their costumes.

Edwards, dressed as a defender of freedom, "Captain America," one of the various costumes at this event.

"I really support defending our freedoms and I need to come out here and kick some a--" said Edwards.

Others had a different opinion about jumping into cold water on a Saturday.

"I was not about to jump in there." said Army Private First Class Jessica Thomas, 344th Military Intelligence Battalion. "I'm from upstate New York; I don't like cold, cold weather, cold water."

Person after person jumped in the water and hurried to get out of the lake. Some said they felt like new people after exiting the water.

Lt. Col. Stephen Nicolai, 17th Training Wing Chaplain, said it felt "refreshing... divine...next to heaven" after exiting Lake Nasworthy. Chaplain Nicolai wasn't the only person feeling new.

"I feel great. I feel like I definitely accomplished something today." Chance said. "Great way to wake myself up."

Almost everyone made it through the frigid waters problem free.

"I jumped in the water with the initial thought it was going to be cold but not that cold," said Airman First Class Devon Loucks, 316th Training Squadron student. "When I jumped in my body kinda shut down but I saw Captain America behind me, just swam to my rescue."

"He looked like he needed some help, so I went out and rescued him," Edwards added.

On that Saturday afternoon which saw Captain America, Batman and over 80 other people jump in Lake Nasworthy, it might have persuaded some more people to join next year's Polar Bear plunge.

"I might, depends on how cold it is," Thomas added. "Probably not if I'm in upstate New York."