There were many first-time jumpers this year, as well as many who were jumping for their fourth consecutive year.

This year’s new jumpers from Forestville included middle school students Nicolette Adgate, Meredith Stemlack, Brenna Valentine, and high school student Ellie Cross.

Jumping for the second year from Forestville was Ali Kerstetter, and Sophia Drozdziel and Katie Franklin completed their third year at the event.

First-timers from Silver Creek this year were middle schoolers Lilly Fox, Claire Gonzalez, Allison Hughes, Leah Merchant, Belle Shumaker, and Chloe Tytka. First-time high school students included Mia Bella Delmonte, Angeleana Diehl, Jana Dreher (exchange student from Germany), Frankie Laspesa, Isabella Vecere Saletta, Gracelyn Swan, and Payton Wood.

Middle school students jumping for their second year included Annie Matney and Haley Ross, with high school students Ella Austin, Summer Sanden, Colin Shumaker, and Emily Yerke.

Students from the high school participating in their third year included Troy Cooper, Lily Prince Rivera, and Renee Soggs. Participants for their fourth year included Emily Bowers and Julie Decker.

Mrs. Decker, YAC advisor, and Mrs. Shumaker participated in their fourth year, with Mrs. Cook jumping for her third year and Mrs. Heller for her first year.

The Buffalo Polar Plunge is the largest Polar Plunge event in the state, spanning two days, with all 21 different high schools participating in the Cool School Challenge on that day. The high schools raised over $150,000 this year, and both plunges raised more than $500,000 — the largest amount ever raised.