The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The Polar Bear Plunge at Wildwood wasn't polar, but it was wild.

Hundreds of plungers partied in the convention center parking lot Saturday morning amid 60-degree temperatures, before fulfilling their commitment to run into the 43-degree ocean to raise money for Special Olympics New Jersey.

"The weather today is fantastic," said seven-year plunger Joanie Krucinski, of the Piggy Park Plungers. "God is clearly smiling on us."

Krucinski and her teammates were dressed in various blue and white costumes -- Penn State was their theme -- as they danced next to a giant fake polar bear.

"We do this because we have several Special Olympians that plunge with us," Krucinski said. "All through the year, we go to their events."

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

About 26,000 athletes will benefit from the money raised, according to Jeremy Davis, a spokesperson for Special Olympics New Jersey,

Training, competitions and health programs are all free for the athletes.

Several athletes, along with their families, friends and other supporters, lined up just before 1 p.m. to make the long run to the ocean. Many plungers were quick to exit the water, which was about 20 degrees colder than the air.

A strong 20 mph wind greeted them as they searched for warmer clothes. Braver ones lingered in the water for several minutes.

This year, 1,046 plungers raised more than $330,000, bringing the 14-year total to more than $3.5 million.

AlohAvengers were on top of the team plunge leaderboard, raising $38,141. Below them, Desmond's Divers pulled in $28,689 and Piggy Park Plungers raised $24,764.

Donald Rambo was the top individual leader, raising $5,890.

The next plunge to benefit Special Olympics New Jersey will be Feb. 22 in Seaside Heights.

Contributions are still being accepted.

Check out more photos of the Polar Bear Plunge at Wildwood below.

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Joanie Krucinski, of Deptford, and Harold Holmstrom, of Woodbury, party outside the Wildwoods Convention Center before the Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge that benefits Special Olympics New Jersey, on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Raymond Carr, with the team Raymond's Raiders, helps Kevin Bucceroni, right, grill before the Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge that benefits Special Olympics New Jersey, on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. Carr, who the team is named after, is a Special Olympic athlete. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Taylor Baker, of Pittsgrove, left, battles Jennifer Kernan, of Pennsville, before the Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge that benefited Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Plungers party outside of the convention center before the Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge benefiting Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Julie Mosley, of Quinton, adjusts the head gear on Zuck, her five-year-old Yorkie, before the Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge benefiting Special Olympics New Jersey, Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge helped Special Olympics New Jersey on Saturday Jan. 11, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Tim Hawk may be reached at thawk@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Tim on Instagram@photog_hawk and Twitter @photogthawk. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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