Across the sand they faced their bookstore and box-office rivals: Superman, Batman, Flash and other DC comics legends.

With a cry of “Get them!” from the Marvel creator, the superheroes charged each other and put on a fight for the crowd, before turning and rushing together into the lake at the annual Polar Plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics.

Staging the fight was just a way for the Dodger Senate team to add more fun to an already light-hearted event, as nearly 60 participants in colorful costumes braved the frigid waters for a good cause.

Those team members raised around $8,000 for the organization, said Rachel Bosworth, Law Enforcement Torch Run marketing and event manager from the Des Moines office of Special Olympics Iowa.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
Zach Stanley, in costume, runs from the freezing water with the rest of the Fort Dodge Police team during the Polar Plunge. Stanley wasn't part of the team last year, but said his teammates told him last year was warmer.

Derek Haugland, advisor to the Dodger Senate students, donned some grey hair paint and a tape-on mustache to play Stan Lee.

Haugland said he and student Boston Gordon together came up with the idea to enter a team three years ago.

“Three years ago we won best costume,” Haugland said. “That was a Star Wars theme. Last year we went as Toy Story.

“We’re looking to win our third year in a row with Marvel vs. DC.”

Their efforts were rewarded.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
Christian Simon, right, fist-bumps Roger Ritter of the Central Iowa Underwater Search and Rescue team as he makes his way out to the rescuers, and prepares to race back to shore out of the freezing water. Simon ran with the "Shiverado" team from Kemna Auto.

Some of the costumes were ornate. Antavion Adams carried a real sword to portray the vampire-hunting Blade.

Of course, since he couldn’t swing it in battle, his fight with the Green Arrow turned into a bit of a slap-fight.

His leather jacket was real, also. That didn’t go into the water with him.

“My Grandma took one look at that and said, ‘You are not ruining that,'” Adams said.

Fort Dodge Police Sgt. Zach Stanley wore a giant mask resembling a mob boss or gangster, as he ran with the FDPD’s “Cops and Robbers” team. He won the “best individual costume” recognition.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
Dodger Senate team members dressed as Marvel superheroes charge across the beach -- Collin Ellsbury as Spider-Man, Karisa Meier as Scarlet Witch, Antavion Adams as Blade, Anthony Wagner as Hulk, and Austin Andrews as Captain America -- in a superhero battle before taking a polar plunge into the lake Sunday afternoon.

The team has been involved since the beginning, but Stanley himself wasn’t involved last year.

“I heard a lot of the guys saying it’s colder this year,” he said.

On the “Shiverado” team from Kemna Motors, Dylon Drummond’s costume was especially eclectic–including a tutu and luchador mask.

“If you’re going to do something goofy like this, you might as well go all out,” he said.

He was grateful for the chance to warm up inside with chili and pizza afterward.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter An epic superhero battle degenerates into a slap fight between Blade (Antavion Adams), left, and Green Arrow (Landon Getting) on the Dodger Senate team. The kids won best costume award for the third year in a row at Sunday's Polar Plunge.

“It’s wasn’t so bad until you get out of the water, then your feet are cold,” he said.

“It’s awesome,” said Christian Simon, one of Drummond’s teammates. “I’ve always wanted to do it. I just haven’t had the chance.

“We’re just getting frosty for a good cause.”

Doug Wilk, who works at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility, was one of only two people there who had been in every plunge. He’s also part of the organizing committee, along with Special Olympics Area Director Liz Rusher, Jeremy Moore from the FDPD, and others from the state Special Olympics organization.

“2008 was our first year,” Wilk said. “We had to break the ice off the lake.”

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter
Marvel and DC superheroes, portrayed by the Dodger Senate Polar Plunge team, run from the freezing water at the Polar Plunge to raise money for Special Olympics Sunday in Badger Lake at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park.

Bosworth said this is just one of 13 polar plunges she will attend around Iowa over the year.

“We’ll be in Dubuque in a couple weeks,” she said.

“Then they’ll start up again in February,” added Mary Besler, Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run event coordinator.

“Polar Plunges cumulatively raise $600,000 to $700,000 across Iowa,” Bosworth said. “It’s a great fundraiser for our over 14,000 athletes in the state of Iowa.”

The next Special Olympics event will be the state bowling event, held Nov. 18 in Des Moines, Council Bluffs and Cedar Rapids. The next statewide event will be the basketball tournament in February, held in locations throughout the state including Fort Dodge.