Sixteen girls, one rope and only one winner.

The countdown continues as NIU sororities continue to train for Tugs Sept. 24 and 25.

“It could be two or three matches before a winner is announced,” said Justina Diaz, Delta Zeta and senior nutrition and dietetics major.

Each tugger lays ‘taped up’ in a man-made trench, only inches away from her teammate. The rope weaves over the tugger’s forearm and under the armpit; each of the first seven tuggers alternate the rope through their right-arm or left-arm, while the team’s anchor wraps the whole rope around her back. Tuggers pull and hang onto the rope, lifting their bodies on 45 degree angles, until the match is over.

“This is my third year tugging,” said Kaitlin Smith, a Sigma Kappa and junior art major. “We started training about a week ago and we are excited to continue.”

Tugs is a major event on Greek Row every year, but this year could be historic as Delta Zeta has the opportunity to win its third consecutive Tugs crown, earning the sorority the Dynasty Title.
Delta Zeta may be a recent powerhouse, but the other sororities are not going to hand the title over.

“We are very confident this year,” Smith said. “We are all trying the best we can and working as hard as possible at every second.”

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