US Bank has been involved in the Owensboro Polar Plunge since the event first came into being in 2005. Since then, the US Bank Plunge team has made a habit of taking home large piles of Plunge hardware. This year was certainly no different with the Bank and its team members all but sweeping the major fundraising award categories.

As a team, US Bank won both Top Fundraising Team honors and the Polar Cup as the largest Corporate team. There were 17 US Bank team members who took the Plunge, raising $12,529.98. And while it was once again US Bank team members who grabbed the individual awards, it was a pair of fresh faces who wore the King and Queen of the Plunge crowns home. Angie Bomar earned Queen honors as the event's top female fundraiser with a total of $3,235.27, which also made her the top overall fundraiser. Bob Smiley was named King with $1,500 raised.

Brave Polar Bears hit the lake at The Hines Center. (by Ghost Images Photography)

And while there may have been a new King and Queen of the Plunge, the Prince and Princes held onto their titles. Tanner Klee, who jumps with the FOP team, ALMOST became the boy king as the event's top overall male fundraiser. He fell just short, but hangs onto his Princely crown with $1,255 raised. Savannah Helm repeated as Plunge Princess with $274 raised.

The Polar Cups for largest Law Enforcement and School teams also were taken home by repeat winners. The Law Enforcement division went to the Fraternal Order of Police, which had nine team members jump, raising $3,585.80. Apollo High School CEC won the School division again. This year they had 14 team members who raised $993.50.

In addition to the Fraternal Order of Police, the Plunge saw a great deal of support from other Law Enforcement agencies as well. The Owensboro Police Department, Daviess County Sheriff's Office and Daviess County Detention Center personnel all played a great role in this year's Plunge.

No matter how good the other costumes were -- and a lot of them were great -- the Duck Dynasty entrance was going to be hard to compete with. (by Ghost Images Photography)

Of all six Kentucky Plunges, perhaps no group has taken the annual costume contest that is a big part of Plunge activities as seriously as the Owensboro plungers have, and this year was certainly no exception. There were a number of amazing costumes again in 2013 that made it very hard for judges to determine a winner. The host team from The Hines Center -- always a costume contest star -- dressed as the rock band KISS complete with groupies. The first-time Plunge team from Southern Star Gas Pipeline opened strong, dressing as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (although their dwarves had slightly different names). But Pop Culture has always been a big winner at the Polar Plunge costume contest and a team dressed as the crew from the TV show Duck Dynasty took home the Golden Plunger for the Best Group Costume. They came in with a boat, a duck blind and an actual retriever who retrieved a duck decoy for them.

As good as the group costumes were, it was an individual who really brought down the house this year. Local radio personality Kizzy from Plunge-sponsor WBKR came out to take the Plunge for the first time. Kizzy -- who only makes occasional public appearances had the crowd going wild and easily won the costume contest even though technically we think she was sort of dressed as herself.

Speaking of WBKR, a huge thank you goes out once again to them and to Chad Bennefield. Chad formed a WBKR Plunge team that included many WBKR listeners, as well as radio personalities like him and Kizzy. He has been a relentless champion for the Polar Plunge and we truly appreciate everything he has done for the event.

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We also would like to thank our 2013 Polar Plunge sponsors -- our hosts at The Hines Center who continue to provide a wonderful home for the Polar Plunge and raise a great deal of money for the event, US Bank Home Mortgage/Development Group who provides all the volunteers for the event in addition to their incredible fundraising, Texas Roadhouse, WBKR, The Law Enforcement Torch Run and AAA Travel. Thanks as well to the many volunteers who helped make the 2013 Polar Plunge possible.

The Owensboro Plunge was one of six Polar Plunges held in Kentucky this year, with other events in Bellevue, Lake Cumberland, Lexington, Louisville and Western Kentucky. In all more than 2,800 people took the Plunge this year for Special Olympics Kentucky, raising more than $688,000.

For more information about how you can get involved in the 2014 Polar Plunge as a participant, team captain or as a sponsor, contact Candace Thompson, Special Events Director, at 502-326-5002 or cthompson@soky.org.

2013 Owensboro Plunge Award Winners

King of the Plunge — Bob Smiley, US Bank, $1,500.00 raised
Queen of the Plunge — Angie Bomar, US Bank, $3,235.37 raised
Prince of the Plunge — Tanner Klee, $1,255.00 raised
Princess of the Plunge — Savannah Helm, $274.00 raised

Polar Cup Corporate Division — US Bank; 17 members, $12,529.98 raised
Polar Cup School Division — Apollo High School-CEC; 14 members, $993.50 raised
Polar Cup Law Enforcement Division — Fraternal Order of Police; 9 members, $3,585.80 raised
Top Fundraising Team — US Bank, $12,529.98 raised

Team Costume Contest Winner — Duck Dynasty
Individual/Pairs Costume Contest Winner — Kizzy, WBKR