Kathy Kretch didn’t know what she was getting into.

In her freshman year, she signed up for tugs thinking it was nothing more than a glorified version of tug-of-war.

But now in her senior year, she realizes the commitment and hard work it takes to maintain continued success in the Greek Week event.

Kretch is a captain on Alpha Phi’s tug team. They have a streak of five straight championship wins that will be on the line in April.

Preparation has already begun and Kretch is now showing the younger members of the team the devotion they need to win.

“Now I’m more of a role model than a follower,” she said. “The girls look up to me.”

Kretch’s obligations include scheduling training and notifying members of practices.

“My freshman year, we tugged for five minutes and if we didn’t have the training we couldn’t have won,” Kretch said. “We have to be ready for anything.”

Since Jan. 28, the team has conditioned two hours a day by working out and practicing rope work for the final competition.

“We work our butts off,” Kretch said. “We’re out in the mud and rain practicing while other teams canceled.”

To determine who will tug in the final competition, members participate in challenge week starting in early March.

During challenge week, Alpha Phi veterans vote for two Sigma Pi members they want to coach them.

Challenge week gives members three tries to work one-on-one and try to earn a spot on the rope.

“It’s good to have coaches because their more hardcore and can look from the outside in to critique us,” said Nikki Godzicki, Alpha Phi captain. “We take to heart what they say.”

About 16 members train for tugs, but only 10 tug in the final competition.

Many members continue to participate in the same events over the years because of their different talents.

“It’s exciting to see family, friends and teachers come to watch you,” Kretch said. “Although you only tug for like a minute, it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Nikki Godzicki is a first time captain of Alpha Phi.

She helps motivate the members by positive encouragement.

In a captain position, Godzicki said the members expect her to be committed and set a good example.

“It’s a competition, but everyone interacts with each other,” Godzicki said. “Everyone is working together for a common goal.”

The competitive nature of Greek Week means hard training and teamwork.

Some groups practice at night to avoid members’ agenda conflicts.

Other teams, like Sigma Phi Epsilon, practice inside or in the field house of the Student Recreation Center because of the cold weather.

“Participants take pride in the hard work put forth,” said Brian Burja, captain of Sigma Phi Epsilon. “People don’t realize how much effort it takes.”

First-place winners of Greek Week receive a trophy, plaque and bragging rights for a year.

“It brings everyone together because of the team effort,” Burja said.

Junior Elementary Education major Alissa Rendall pratices on the rope for Greek Week Tugs last week in Lantz Fieldhouse. Tugs, which is two months away in late March, has teams praticing every where already. (John Bailey/The Daily Eastern News)

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