The legendary annual tug-of-war competition between fraternities is underway this week.

Rob Martin, Pi Kappa Alpha president and tournament co-chairman, said tugs is run solely by the fraternities. Although tugs occurs during Springfest, it is not sponsored by the Interfraternity Council or NIU, he said.

NIU sponsorship ended in 1987 because NIU “felt there was too much liability with tugs” with the possibility of injuries, Martin said.

“Tugs is the ultimate proving of masculinity,” Martin said. “Tugs proves who’s got the best tug team, who’s trained the hardest, who’s in the best shape and who’s the strongest.”

Nine fraternities are participating in the event. Tugs began Sunday with a preliminary round in which Lambda Chi Alpha defeated Sigma Chi.

During Monday’s first round, Sigma Phi Epsilon defeated Sigma Nu, Delta Upsilon defeated Phi Kappa Theta, Phi Sigma Kappa defeated Delta Sigma Phi and Pi Kappa Alpha defeated Lambda Chi Alpha.

During Wednesday’s round, Sigma Phi Epsilon challenged Delta Upsilon and Pi Kappa Alpha challenged Phi Sigma Kappa. Tugs continues tomorrow by the Sigma Phi Epsilon house, Martin said.

Martin said tugs started in the early ‘70s and occurred twice a year by the residence halls. Over the years, trenches were added and the event moved to Greek Row, he said.

Martin said each fraternity has an 11-man team which tugs on the 100-foot rope. Results from last year, long with a draw, determine which teams will compete.

Tom Caruso, tugs chairman for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, said Sig Eps have trained for 71 days. “All houses train differently, but it’s basically from three to five days a week for two hours a night,” he said.

“There’s a lot of mind work and discipline. It’s more than just a sport. We look at it as individual wars,” Caruso said. “It’s (the appeal of the event) for the distinguished honor of winning tugs and to be the fraternity that stands out.”

Chris Leman, tugs chairman and caller for Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, said Phi Sigs began conditioning in the beginning of March and started in the trenches after spring break.

“Tugs is such a big event. It really shows the strength of a house,” he said. “You can’t get lucky in tugs. Your work really shows.”

Leman said he is “on top of the world” over the fraternity’s win against Delta Sigma Phi fraternity Monday. “It’s a great feeling. I’m completely happy with our team,” he said.

Besides the men who pull the rope, each team has a caller. “A caller tells the team what to do through the whole tug. It’s the strategic part,” Leman said.

Martin said last year’s winners, in order, were: Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Pi and Delta Upsilon.