DeKALB | A lot of grunting and sweating will take place on Greek Row this weekend during Women’s Tugs.

The annual Women’s Tugs, a two-night event hosted by the fraternity Phi Kappa Alpha, commonly known as the Pikes, will take place Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Pike house, 900 Greenbrier Road.

Tickets for Tugs will cost $5 on Friday and $7 on Saturday.

Every fraternity and sorority is associated with a different philanthropy, in which members are required to complete community service hours and fundraising programs to help their organization’s cause.

“The Pikes have been hosting Women’s Tugs since the early 1990s, donating proceeds to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation,” said Tim Smerz, a junior political science major and the Pike’s internal vice president.

Pike members break up into groups of five and coach each sorority.

“Practices usually go for about two to three hours, and most sororities train for about a month. They are held late at night or early in the morning because of school and work,” said Racheal DeMoss, a Sigma Kappa member and junior hospitality administration major.

Every match, excluding the championship matches which can last as long as an hour, lasts for 10 minutes.

Within each sorority there are two different teams: A-rope and B-rope. There are eight tuggers to every rope.

“If both ropes win, then that sorority won and will tug in the championships the next day. If both ropes lose, then the sorority will not tug again. If A-rope or B-rope loses, then the A-rope tugs a third match,” DeMoss said.

Erin Wilson is the Greek Affairs beat reporter for the Northern Star.