By Rosanna Fernandez/reporter

Two-time defending champion Arg-Mex could not three-peat as it lost to Los Aztecas in the SE dodgeball tournament Sept. 20.

Los Aztecas took Arg-Mex in four games to two in the finals.

Nine teams competed in the tournament hosted by coaches Shahzad Nazir and Christina Henley. Four teams made it to the semifinals: Ballaholics, You Better Redneckanize, Los Aztecas and Arg-Mex (Argentina-Mexico).

Ricardo Arrocha and brothers Franco and Luis Millotto of Arg-Mex played well and looked sharp in the first half of the competition as did Belen Vigil, who, though taking a blow to the head, trudged on. She iced her head between games and said she planned to go to work that evening.

Although his team Los Aztecas was new, Arturo Hildago spotted the dominant factor that made this win possible.

“Teamwork — the most important thing,” he said. “Motivating each other on the court. It was our first tournament, first time playing, and we planned to beat the champions.”

Los Aztecas had never played dodgeball before.

“Arg-Mex were champions for two years, and we had to work together,” said Aztecas team member Kevin Fernandez. “It was our first game to play.”