Polar Bear Prince Zar LaRosa is shown with Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce President Chris Glancey.

Polar Bear Princess Dominique Pittaluga, 16, is shown moments after accepting her title. Also shown are fellow contestants Barbara Jean Bennett, far left, and Victoria Cookson.

Shown are contestants, seated from left, Frankie Edwardi and Zar LaRosa, and, standing from left, Megan Welch, Maria Robinson, Alissa Valeriano, Victoria Cookson, Dominique Pittaluga, Madison McGinn, Barbara Jean Bennett and Julia Kennedy.

Diane Reitz, second from right, a math teacher at Wildwood High School and summer employee at McGowan’s Market in Sea Isle City, received her crown from 2010 Queen Trudy Craney, second from left. Also shown are contestants Jodi LaRosa and Megan Romano.

On Feb. 19, Sea Isle City’s annual Polar Bear Plunge's “royal family” took the plunge together. Shown just before they ran into the ocean are Queen Diana Reitz and King John Cirone, top, with Princess Dominique Pittaluga, 16, and Prince Zar LaRosa, 10.

Prev Next Enlarge

SEA ISLE CITY – Sea Isle City’s 17th annual Polar Bear plunge weekend began with the yearly Polar Bear King and Queen contests at La Costa Lounge on Friday night, Feb. 19. This year, organizers added to the event’s excitement by including new categories for prince and princess, which were open to boys and girls, age 10-16. Each of the participating contestants delighted the audience and impressed the competition’s two judges, TV-40 sportscaster Pete Thompson and 610-WIP radioman Big Daddy Graham.

The Prince and Princess contests were sponsored by the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and emceed by chamber president Chris Glancey. The king and queen competitions were sponsored by La Costa Lounge and emceed by Jimmy Bennett, owner of La Costa and chairman of the Sea Isle City Tourism Commission. All contestants received prizes and each of the winners received glittering crowns and satin sashes.

Two local students brought their own sense of style to the Prince competition, which took place first. Frankie Edwardi, 10, son of Sea Isle City Councilman Frank Edwardi, strolled onto the stage dressed as a penguin and carrying a bucket of candy for the audience. Frankie had a sizable cheering section of relatives and friends, who carried signs and cheerfully shouted his name. However, it was Zar LaRosa of Sea Isle City, 10, who was declared the city’s first Polar Bear Prince. Zar was all smiles as he graciously accepted his title.

The princess contest attracted eight lovely young ladies, including Victoria Cookson, 13, Barbara Bennett, 11, Julia Kennedy, 12, Megan Welsh, 12, Madison McGinn, 12, Maria Robinson, 11 and Alissa Valeriano, 16. When the judging was completed, Dominique Pittaluga, 16, a Sea Isle City resident and 11th grader at Ocean City High School, walked home with the princess title.

Later in the evening, four queen contestants took to the stage, including Jodi LaRosa and Megan Romano. The 2010 Polar Bear Queen Trudy Craney was also a contender for the 2011 crown, however, she was edged out by Diana Reitz, a math teacher at Wildwood High School and summer employee at McGowan's Market in Sea Isle City.

“This is surreal. I can’t believe I won,” Reitz said. “Being queen is such an honor and I am so happy to represent Sea Isle City at the plunge.”

“Being Polar Bear Queen was one of the best experiences of my life,” added Craney as she was leaving the contest. "I am going to miss being queen, but I am very happy for Diana.”

This year there were no entries for the king contest, so that portion of the event was canceled. However, a late entry was accepted the next morning, and the title of Polar Bear King was given to John Cirone of Sea Isle City.

On Saturday, each of Sea Isle’s four Polar Bear “royals” took the plunge together on the 40th Street beach. As is always the case, they arrived at the beach on top of a throne of ice, which was supplied by the Sea Isle Ice Company. Afterwards, other plungers and countless spectators enjoyed posing on the ice throne while friends and family members snapped photos.

“This was the best turnout we have ever seen for the king and queen contests,” said Bennett. “And I am so happy that we now have a prince and princess. More and more people every year are enjoying the plunge and the events that take place on plunge weekend, and I would like to congratulate the chamber of commerce, the Sea Isle City Tourism Commission and Kix package goods for helping make this night a success. I would also like to thank Mickey and Dave Coskey, owners of Seven Mile Publishing), for all they do.”

Photos and release courtesy of Katherine Custer, Sea Isle City Public Relations Department