Eight UW-Eau Claire alumni, one of whom is also an Eau Claire native, recently took part in one of the most competitive Ultimate Frisbee tournaments in the world: The World Ultimate Club Championships in Lecco, Italy. During the first week of August our (former) hometown heroes – now based in the Twin Cities – won against every opponent sent their way, leaving Italy with gold medals hanging proudly around their highly successful necks. The competition was tight throughout the tournament and every team putting up a fight, but the UWEC-powered team – known as Drag’n Thrust – was clearly prepared to win. The four teams in the mixed (co-ed) semifinals all came into their games undefeated, and only Drag’n Thrust emerged on top. The final match-up, which proved to be a moment for redemption, was against a powerful team out of San Francisco, the Polar Bears, who had beat Drag’n Thrust at home at the U.S. Open in Blaine, Minn., earlier in the summer. Drag’n Thrust piled it on, winning 17-10 over the Polar Bears. UWEC alumna and newlywed Anna Hettler caught the winning point, while her husband, James Hron, also a UWEC alumnus, brought in three points during the final. The UWEC community, and the Valley, has one more reason to be proud of its graduates.