But a sporting event broke out Tuesday. At a record-setting pace, 116 jumpers braved the cold waters with four jumpers refusing to give in.
The event was finally called for "medical wisdom" with all four jumpers finishing with 40 jumps each.
James Ned Beatty, Thomas Ram, David Deaver and George Wangemann each layed claimed to the title.
But defending champion and Gainesville City Councilman Wangemann felt that since noone outjumped him, technically he still calls himself champion. Wangemann had to jumped six times uninteruppted to reach the 40-jump mark.
Sheer determination, or sheer stupidity.
"I'm not sure yet," Wangemann said with a smile. "But no one beat me so I think I'm still the champ."
Youngsters Ram and Deaver said they could have gone at least one more and Wangemann said he also could have kept going. Beatty said he was going to stop at 40.
"I can't feel my hands, but I wanted to win so I would've kept going," Deaver said.
Not to be lost in the competition, the LCKC raised at least $1,300 dollars to buy new equipment for the middle school program.
"That's the most we've raised with the event and we can't be more pleased with how it went," Connie Hagler said. "It seems to be getting bigger each year."
The water wasn't nearly as cold as in 2001, when the water was near freezing. Wangemann won last year's event with just four jumps.
"It was a lot warmer this year compared to last, but it's still cold," Wangemann said.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/1/200741