The Avengers assembled, ready to battle the aliens who had dared to invade their gym at Diamond Bar High School.

Thor, Ironman and Nick Fury strode bravely into the dodgeball arena, psyched for the impending battle with the teachers who had the temerity to challenge them in open combat.

"Actually, it's the championship in the dodgeball tournament we've been holding at lunchtime for the past week," explained Tim Woolston, English teacher and leader of the teacher team cleverly called Staff 1.

"We've been charging $5 per person to raise money for the Pathways program at the high school," the brave instructor said.

Two dozen instructors answered his clarion call to battle the Avengers and other teens in the dodgeball arena.

The Brahma's football players dominated the tournament. They needed to polish off some semifinalists before showing the teachers who dominated the hardwood court.

And the dodgeball didn't seem that soft when thrown with fury by the well-conditioned high school athletes. Which isn't to say the staff hadn't been working hard on their own game.

"We've been practicing after school for the past week," said Chelsea Grunseth, activities director and sole woman on Staff 1. "I think we'll be very competitive."

French teacher Tony Tietz went so far as to talk "smack" about the football players. That wouldn't be the only smack that would be heard that lunch hour.

"I'm not afraid to play," added chemistry teacher Carly Russo, who noted she's lost 73 pounds since August to get into fighting shape.

The intrepid instructors warmed up by playing each other in the first round. Staff 2 then went on to play the student team with the best uniforms.

No really, Team Golf Wang was chosen because it had made the best uniforms for the tournament.

"We wanted to reward students who put some effort in their uniforms," Woolston explained.

The tired teachers then battled the second place student team The Black Panthers. Setting the stage for the battle royale, staff vs. football players.

Thor, aka Troy Lanning, scoffed at the thought that the teachers had a chance on the dodgeball court. The 18-year-old football captain thought the teachers would be hammered. Of course, that may have been the Mjolnir (Thor's hammer) talking.

Teammate Jamaal Clayton, aka Nick Fury, also seem unconcerned about the pending competition. The 17-year-old had become something of a dodgeball legend over the past week.

"We'll beat them with our throwing," crowed Ironman Menandro Gelva. The 18-year-old was looking forward to the best of three throwdown.

In the end, the teachers turned out to be more of a match for the young athletes than expected. While Staff 1 lost the first game, they roared back in the second for a big win against the shocked students.

Setting up the decisive game before a packed gymnasium of students and staff. Avengers assemble!

Though Thor was sore from a dodgeball hit and Fury was furious over their first loss, the Avengers proved their metal under Ironman's leadership.

The students triumphed in a hard fought battle taking the title of dodgeball champions for Diamond Bar High.