Super Plungers take on the 21st annual Rochester Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Minnesota

(ABC 6 News) – This year is the 21st annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics Minnesota in Rochester.

Super Plungers started plunging on Friday at 2 p.m. at Foster Arend Park. Super Plungers jump 24 times in 24 hours and they have to raise a minimum of $3,000 to participate in the Super Plunge.

Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson participates every year.

"I’m always super excited. It’s cold, it pumps you up. It’s so much fun and then you run right in and get heated up again in that super tunnel," Sheriff Torgerson said.

"Today we are on nine (jumps) so far I think. We’re going to try and get 23 in by 10 o’clock tonight," Capt. Macey Tesmer with the Olmsted Co. Sheriff’s Office, said.

This is Tesmer’s 15th year as a Super Plunger.

Over the past 20 years, the Polar Plunge in Rochester has raised over $3.1 million. It’s really a community effort.

"It’s teams from all over. From the Mayo Clinic, from businesses, from Rochester Motor Cars is incredible. Just huge support from the community and for the athletes of Special Olympics," Torgerson said.

Every year it’s cold, but this year it’s cold and windy.

"The water is not bad. The wind is rough. We’ve done the super plunge a long time and this probably is the worst wind we’ve ever had," Tesmer said.

But even though it’s cold, it’s for a good cause.

"That’s why we keep doing it," Tesmer added.

The Polar Plunge starts at noon Saturday at Foster Arend Park.