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Local polar bears take New Year’s plunge at Cape Henlopen

Tradition stays alive in 2021
The socially distanced Polar Bears pose for a picture before taking a plunge into the frigid waters of the Atlantic. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
January 4, 2021

A little rain didn’t deter the nearly 40 people taking a dip in the 46-degree Atlantic Ocean at Cape Henlopen State Park for the annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge. The local event has been a tradition for nearly 40 years and was a prequel to the Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge in Rehoboth Beach.

Taking the plunge this year were Dale and Kimberly Johnson; Bruce and Brad Egolf; Pat Backus; Greg and Bryan Mack; Lindsay D’Ambrogi; Tessa, Jack, Bill and Cannon Lingo; D.J., Alison, James, Wendy and Tom Gusmer; Bob Hughes; Chris Gill; Jerry and Seager Davis; Max Coveleski; Keith Ricker; Karen Zakarian Burns; Connie, J.D. and Avary Miller; Chip Davis; Jamie Whitten; Kevin Rough; Matt Hesseltine and Steph Elechko; Adam Marvin; A.J. Williams; Ann and Alex Cameron; Luke Gilbert; Mike Ocksbig; Janelle, Graham, Griffin and Grayson Sender; Todd Keen; Mike Johnson; and Oliver Ranco.

It was the 36th year for Connie Miller of Lewes.

Lindsay D'Ambrogi, left, and Billy Lingo sprint from the icy water.
Todd Keen leads a group of plungers into the 46-degree water.
Lewes resident Keith Ricker has been plunging for 27 years.
Bob Hughes, who has been plunging for 30-plus years, strolls out of the cold water.
Chris Gill, center, leads Matt Hesseltine, left, and Jack Lingo out of the waves.
Jack Lingo has plunged for 26 years. His wife Tessa joined him in 2004, proving the family that plunges together, stays together.
Billy Lingo and his son Cannon, 4, plunged, while Billy’s wife Sam waited with a warm towel.
Veteran Polar Bear Chip Davis plunged with his grandson Jamie Whitten.
J.D. Miller and his daughter Avary plunge with his mom Connie. Avary was the first baby born in Connecticut at 12:02 a.m., Jan. 1, 2008.
Taking their masks off for a quick picture are plunge pals (l-r) Bobby Carpenter, Bryan Mack and Max Coveleski.
Dale Johnson of Rising Sun, Md., leaves the chilly ocean. It was his 28th year taking the plunge.
Ann Cameron from Washington, D.C., runs out of the ocean as quickly as she ran in.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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