Mind over matter. It’s a principled saying that means using willpower to overcome physical obstacles, and it’s a phrase a handful of brave souls put into practice this weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, Marian Catholic High School put on its first annual “Be Cool for our School” Polar Plunge. Students, parents and other school supporters gathered at Mauch Chunk Lake in Jim Thorpe, some plunging into the frozen lake and others cheering on their peers.

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Plunge Coordinator Kathy Goff, who previously served as the president of the Home and School Association at St. Joseph Regional Academy, brought the event from St. Joe’s over to Marian after the academy closed last year.

“After they closed, I really, really hated to see Polar Plunge go away, because it’s like my baby,” Goff said. “I’ve been doing this for five years now, and I just didn’t want it to go away.”