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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
December 27, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
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December 27, 2012
 
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SHS boys swimmers tank Lincoln, challenge selves with Gig Harbor ( ourtesy of Joe Peters Participants at the fourth annual Squaxin Community Salish Sea Plunge lift their arms in victory after taking a dip in the cold, January water last New Year's Day. By EMILY HANSON For the fifth year in a row, the bold in Mason County are invited to brave the frigid waters of the Hammersley Inlet. The fifth annual Squax- in Community Salish Sea Plunge is set for 11 a.m. on New Year's Day. Those brave enough will jump into Hammersley Inlet from the Arcadia Point Boat Ramp. The event was started five years ago by Joe Peters, a fish biolbgist and harvest manager for the Squaxin Island Tribe's Natural Re- sources Department. "I had been taking part with my kids in the polar bear swim that occurs in Olympia for over five years," Peters said. "In 2008, Tribal Council member Charlene Krise suggested that I start a polar bear jump for the community. So, in 2008, I sent an email out to the tribal community to come out and start a new tradi- tion with me." "Peters said there were about 10 swimmers the first year. Last year's sea plunge saw roughly 20 swimmers, ranging in age from 2 to 68. Peters said that, at first, he wanted to provide a free drug-and-alcohol free event that signifies a fresh start or a new beginning for a new year. "Jumping into the cool, crisp water is cleansing and refreshing to the mind and body," Peters said. "Some would say that we are just crazy." It was the idea of a re- freshing start that brought Jen Strader to the second Squaxin Community Salish Sea Plunge. "I wanted something new to do," Strader said. "I had just gone through the sepa- ration process and I wanted to start my new year off in a refreshing way." This will be Strader's fourth year participating in the event. She said she con- tinues plunging because she thinks it's a good cause. "We all bring cans of food for the Squaxin Community Food Bank," she said. The sea plunge has grown into a food drive for the Squaxin Community Food Bank, Peters said. While bringing nonper- ishable foods to the event is encouraged, it is not re- quired in order to partici- pate. On average, about 15 people show up each year. About the same number watch from the shore, Pe- ters said. "I would rather go plung- ing with a small group of people I know than be one of a crowd of people I don't know," Strader said. Another aspect of the sea plunge, which adds to the fun, is that participants dress up in costumes. Peters said he's seen people in pajamas, tuxedo T-shirts, blue wigs, Presi- dent Barack Obama masks, dreadlock wigs and classic swim trunks or bikinis. Strader said she has dressed in costume each year. "Last year, I wore roller derby attire, the year be- fore I wore tropical attir6 and the first year, I threw together everything, wild I could think of," she said. "I wore a Mariners' jersey with bloomers and a skirt over them. I went in with a cowboy hat on and I came out with the cowboy hat still on." She said she's going to dress up again this year, but her costume will be a surprise. "It will involve wings, though," she said. "We may be crazy, but I have fun plunging in to the Salish Sea with my kids," Peters said. "It has become a tradition, each year I have past participants ask if we are still a go Jan. 1. Every- body is welcome to take the plunge." Strader said in the years she's participated, the sea plunge has happened during pouring rain and in freezing temperatures. "The most memorable plunge for me was two years ago," she said. "It was 31 degrees, sunny and there was snow on the ground. It looked warm outside so we all had a tropical theme go- ing on, but we were freezing and just Wait~to go in." While S~der's sons have watched her dive each year, she said this year they will be taking the plunge. "Last year, my 16-year- old went in at the spur of the moment in the clothes he was wearing," she said. Strader called the plunge a good event for people to do if they're looking to be involved in something dif- ferent. "It's fun, it's relaxed and it's great camaraderie," she said. "I've met people and stayed in contact with them all year and I would never have met them if I didn't do it." By EMILY HANSON The Shelton boys' swim team com- peted against two teams on opposite ends of the competition spectrum last week. The Highclimbers opened their week with a 128-49 victory against Lincoln on Dec. 18. "Lincoln had seven swimmers," co-head coach Chad Youngquist said. "We didn't put in our strongest line- up." Since Lincoln is a 3A Narrows League team with Shelton, Youngquist said the Highclimbers had to compete against them. "They have blocks, though, so it's always good for practice," he said. With so few swimmers on the Lin- coln side and no diving event -- the board was recently painted and was too slick for competition -- the meet lasted roughly an hour, Youngquist said. "So the Shelton swimmers got half as much rest time as they usually do during a meet," he added. "We had some focusing problems." Despite the lack of focus, six High- climbers earned best times in seven events. Luke Fiedler earned a best time in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2 minutes, 18.94 seconds, fast enough for second place. In the 200-yard individual medley, Chris Frost swam a best time at 2:57.41, taking fourth place. Frost also earned DEC. 20: a best time in the Gig Harbor..132100-yard backstroke. Shelton ........ 54 He took fourth place with a time of JAN. 3: 1:25.94. Shelton at Harrison MacA- Stadium, 3 p.m. levy won the 50-yard freestyle with a best time of 23.66. In the 100-yard bul~terfly, Alex Dodge took fourth place with a best time of 1:33.81. Austin Wells took fourth place in the 100-yard freestyle with a best time of 1:05.47. Finally, two swimmers earned best times in the 100-yard breaststroke. Ryan Taylor won the event with a time of 1:20.05, while Dalton Green took second at 1:24.63. On the flip side, Gig Harbor defeat- ed Shelton 132-54 on Dec. 20. "Gig Harbor will be in the top 10 in the state for 4A," Youngquist said. "We don't have to swim them, I just wanted the guys to see what they should aspire to. GigHarbor has over See Swimming on page C-4 Prevent Uncomfortable & Costly Dental Problems Song Guo, DDS Mary Huang, DDS Shehon Dental Excellence proudly welcomes Song Guo, DDS and M~Vy Huang, DDS. Drs. Guo and Huang bring over six years of outstanding dentistry experience from Bellevue and are delighted to relocate to the Shelton area. Please join our staff" in welcoming these excellent dentists. I FREE Whitening* for Active & New Patients I *(May not be combined with any other offer) 426-4712 .......... po~ at first app ......... Cash value 1120¢ Expires 12J31112 1~626 Olympic Hwy. N. th~o.i,eo~,~,,,,dC Do~o~.g, DDS.sEe,,o, I "1 New Patient Special I s49°°Exam & X-rays *(May not he combined wRh any 0thee offer) I 426.4712 ........................... Cash value 1/20¢ Ne'w patient~ only. Expires 12J3Y12 I.~ 626_Olymppic Hw~y. N.'heofficeofRkhardC. Oownimm.ng, DDS'Sb~lton -- -- • Convenient Payment Plans Available • CareCredit" • Cha. eH aT >ldvance' Patient Payment Plans ' FINANCING OPTIONS Shelton Dental Excellence ,Guo & Huang, DDS, PLLC 1626 Olympic Hwy N • Shelton (360) 426-4712 • Www.SheltonDental.com :J STORE & DELl SPECIALS -- DEC 27- JAN 2 Journal photo by Emdy Hanson Shelton sophomore post Tyler Speaks drives to the basket against Tumwater junior guard Clayton Boze Friday during the Highclimbers' game at Tumwater. SkokomishPark.com • 360-877-5760 Basketball Continued from page C-1 Sandberg said Shelton (1-6) has a long season ahead of it. "I keep telling them that I expect a good effort every day in practice and in games," he said. "I am coaching a good team. They are good friends and are close-knit. That is important to me." Shelton is set to play Aberdeen at 7 p.m. tomorrow at home. have fishing 427-9099 supplies! 19390 North U.S. Hwy. I01 Skokomish Nation, WA 98584 ® OTEMS Skokomish Indian Tribal Enterprises (S.I.T.E.) At the intersection of Hwy. I01 & Hwy. 106 minutes north of Shelton on the Skokomish Indian Reservation Shelton-Mason County Journal -Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 - Page C-3 ; ! .Y