A slow turnout for the Tugs match did not deter tuggers in their matches Wednesday evening.

Pi Kappa Alpha — Pikes — came out over Tau Kappa Epsilon — Tekes — after two 20-minute rounds and a third round of nine and a half minutes.

“[Tugging takes] lifting weights, eating right, and the dedication of 30 guys to be up every night,” said Tim Smerz, sophomore political science major. “[It’s the] ultimate team sport.”

Watching Tugs, students find 11 men on each side of the rope at a time while a second line of 11 stands to the side cheering and waiting to tug in the following round. Coaches stand from the center of the rope and shout orders to their teammates in an effort to achieve victory.

“Each team uses each of the trenches in a different way,” Smerz said, “I’m a tugger, so I do what I’m told.”

The Pikes traditionally tug in knee-high white athletic socks while Sigma Phi Epsilon tuggers traditionally wear red shirts with white letters and red camouflage pants.

“These socks are old school, they’re Pike tradition,” Smerz said.

Sigma Phi Epsilon ­— Sig Eps — won over Phi Kappa Sigma — Skulls — in two rounds of five minutes and 39 seconds and nine minutes and 39 seconds.

“We’re going to look over our film from today, learn from our mistakes and use what we already know to prepare ourselves [for] tugging verses Pikes,” said Mark Michiels, senior exercise physiology major and Sig Ep president.

Michiels said after winning the championship last year, the Sig Eps are trying to start a legacy by winning a few Tugs championships.

As the biggest philanthropy on campus, Tugs annually raises between $5,000 and $7,000 for Youth Aids.

“I can’t wait for Friday,” Smerz said. “Friday’s what I’ve been waiting for all year.”