Sigma Alpha Mu beat other contenders to take the first place trophy at the recycled boat race held Tuesday afternoon at the East Lagoon.

The recycled boat race is a homecoming tradition. Participants, often in groups, build boats made out of recycled materials and race on the lagoon.

Jordan Rush, sophomore mechanical engineering major, was part of the winning team.

“This was the first year [I participated],” Rush said. “It was a way to represent Sigma Alpha Mu.”

Rush said his team had been preparing for a week and its boat was made out of PVC pipe, recycled tarp and liter bottles.

Sigma Alpha Mu finished with a time of four minutes, and right behind them in second place was Delta Upsilon with a time of seven minutes and 45 seconds. Ed Lareau, senior mechanical engineering major, and Kristopher Klecz, junior communications major, were part of the second-place team.

“This is a way to help the fraternity,” Lareau said.

Delta Upsilon prepared for 24 hours and had a boat made out of PVC pipe, duct tape and plastic jugs.

“It’s about brotherhood,” Klecz said. “It was a team effort.”

Stephanie Bourgeois, junior environmental science major, said she thought the boat race was “a lot of fun” even though her team didn’t win a trophy.

“I’m a member of Alpha Phi Omega and I wanted to support the organization,” Bourgeois said. Alpha Phi Omega prepared since Sunday and had a boat made mostly out of two trash cans and PVC pipe.

Some boats only went a few feet, while others came away soaked after they tipped over right at the starting point.