NCAA Athlete, Special Education Major Learns More about Teamwork through Polar Plunge

By Jessica Rowell

“Plunging made me feel like I was doing something bigger than myself.”

These are simple yet profound words from a first time plunger, Rebecca Warren. She notes that she couldn’t describe her experience any other way.

“Plunging into cold water says, ‘I understand the water is freezing but I am willing to do this to help to support the Special Olympics,’” Rebecca explained.

Rebecca Warren (far left) with teammate Courtney Boggs and her brother Kyle Boggs

As a player on Liberty University’s women’s volleyball team, she is more than familiar with the dynamics of being a team player. But Rebecca discovered a new meaning of “teamwork” when she offered to take the place of an injured teammate at the Polar Plunge, an event she had never considered doing before.

“I originally was not going to actually plunge,” Rebecca said. “Instead I was going to help fundraise for [teammates] Courtney Boggs and Karyl Bacon…However, when Karyl had to have unavoidable surgery, I jumped at the opportunity to take her spot.”

Such a sacrifice turned out to be an incredible rewarding and amazing experience Rebecca says she will never forget.  Since her first plunge, she has joined in with the expanding outreach of the organization and has gained the participation of her teammates for this year’s plunge.

“There are so many people are there that are willing to support the special Olympics; people just have to be willing to ask,” she said about gaining funds. “By plunging as a team we hope to show to the community that the Special Olympics is something we are passionate about!”

Rebecca is a special education major, which gave her insight to the challenges faced by the Special Olympics athletes. This insight has touched her heart and moved her to make a difference.

“Raising support is was one thing,” said Rebecca, “but being able to see how many other people plunged, the people we plunged for, and to see how much money was raised overall is what makes it all worth it.”