Shottle Bop’s Carter Nettell and Will Blau compete during the 64th annual International Frisbee Tournament on Sunday, July 10, 2022, in Hancock, Mich. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HANCOCK — The 64th annual International Frisbee Tournament concluded Sunday with the Julius T. Nachazel Cup going to Whiskey Disc from Marquette. They downed local favorite Shottle Bop 3-0.

“We dropped the bomb,” said Shottle Bop player and tournament organizer Ron Blau. “There were several times in the second game when we could have won and even a time or two in the third game when we could have put it away, and we just couldn’t score.”

Shottle Bop teammate Carter Nettell said the team didn’t play up to its potential.

“We just were not on our game,” he said. “We were not playing our best frisbee when we needed to be.”

This year’s tournament had 15 teams from around the Midwest – some coming from as far downstate Michigan. The Boomtown Saints came up from Lansing and rounded out the top three winning teams on the weekend.

Blau added that great weather and lots of spectators made for an exciting two days of frisbee at the Driving Park.

“A lot of people came out to see us. We haven’t had crowds like this in a while,” he said. “The weather was great for both days. You couldn’t have asked for a better Saturday and Sunday.”

Among those watching the action were International Frisbee Hall of Famers Tom Cleworth and Al Bonopane.

These two long time guts players along with three others were inducted into the International Frisbee Hall of Fame (located in the ballroom of the Calumet Colosseum) on Saturday night.

Cleworth was part of the Highland Aces out of Wilmette, Illinois. It was a team that won the guts tournament several times in the early 1970s.

“Those were the glory years for guts,” he said. “You had a lot more teams, and we practiced our craft taking this sport from a picnic game to a new level.”

He noted that the skill level has improved over the decades. This weekend was case and point.

“I am very impressed by how good these players are,” he added. “The throws are dynamite and there have been great catches on all these teams here this weekend.

Bonopane said it was a great honor to be inducted into the Frisbee Hall of Fame. He was a part of Foothill guts based in California and played on winning teams from 1976 -82.

“It is an honor to be here with these halls of famers,” he said. “These younger players are tough. Their throws are big and fast and a notch up from when we played.”