Glencoe High School Unified Program Freezes for a Cause

By William Johnson

“Oh no, there I was,” began Coach Johnson, the fearless (or maybe just slightly overconfident) leader of Glencoe High School’s Unified Program. It all started with an innocent fundraiser—a chance to support the Special Olympics Oregon (SOOR) and give back to their program. The challenge? Raising money by jumping into the frigid Willamette River in February.

Simple enough, right? Well, Coach Johnson, in a moment of what can only be described as wishful thinking, made a bold declaration: If his team could raise $1,500, he too would take the icy plunge. Of course, he set the goal just high enough to be out of reach—or so he thought.

Spoiler alert: He was very, very wrong.

Within just two weeks, the Unified athletes and their families rallied together, smashed their goal, and kept going! By the time the big day arrived, they had raised a grand total of $2,500—securing funds for their program and ensuring that Coach Johnson would be taking an unexpected winter swim.

On the day of the plunge, there were two kinds of people: those who bravely jumped in and those who stood on the sidelines wrapped in blankets, holding hot cocoa and questioning life choices. Among the brave was incoming freshman Caitlyn Zuercher, who proclaimed, “This was the best thing since sliced bread!” Meanwhile, junior Jakob Wenger played it cool, stating, “This wasn’t that bad.” And then there was Coach Johnson, who, between chattering teeth, declared that next year’s goal would be a million dollars—not necessarily to raise more money, but mainly to avoid another dip in 37-degree water.

Thanks to the incredible support from teachers, families, and friends, the Glencoe Unified Program not only met their fundraising goal but also helped contribute to Special Olympics Oregon, which provides year-round sports training and competition for more than 5,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities across the state.

The Polar Plunge is more than just a test of endurance—it’s a chance to step out of your comfort zone and directly impact the lives of athletes who demonstrate courage, joy, and sportsmanship every day. And if you’re lucky, you might even get to see your coach take an involuntary ice bath in the name of a good cause.

Until next year, stay warm, Glencoe!