For the past month, seven teams of tuggers on Greek Row have awakened up early and stayed up late.

This weekend, all the blood, sweat and tears finally paid off.

The Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity held its annual women’s tugs competition Friday and Saturday behind the Pike house at 900 Greenbrier.

In the championship match, last year’s winner, Sigma Kappa, squared off against Alpha Delta Pi, whose team came in second in the 2000 championship tug. Although the final tug in last year’s competition lasted 43 minutes, this year the Alpha Delta Pi tuggers took only 11 minutes to take the rope from the Sig Kaps.

The Alpha Delta Pi winning team also tugged against Sigma Sigma Sigma and Alpha Phi. The Sigma Kappa team placed second in the competition and the Alpha Phi team placed third.

Erin Ferrell, a sophomore textiles, apparel and merchandise major and Alpha Delta Pi tugger, said the competition required straight determination.

“We went from 43 minutes last year, to 11 minutes this year,” Ferrell said. “It was a really great feeling.”

Leslie Cortes, a senior Spanish education major and Alpha Delta Pi tugger, explained what was going through her mind while she was tugging.

“I knew that all the time and effort our team had put in practicing all boiled down to 10 minutes,” Cortes said. “I could hear people cheering for the other team, and that just made me want to work even harder.”

Cortes said their team woke up at 5 a.m. to practice and sometimes would practice twice a day.

The tugs competition drew hundreds of fans, consisting of parents, siblings, friends and fraternity and sorority members.

Jim Kelly, a junior management major and coordinator for women’s tugs, said the Pike philanthropy raised about $2,600. Kelly said all proceeds raised on Friday and Saturday will go to the Red Cross Twin Towers Relief Fund.

“It’s always fun for us to have the competition,” Kelly said. “We’re glad the money will go to such a good cause.”

Junior accountancy major Mike Seitz was pleased to hear that his money will be donated to the Relief Fund.

“I came to tugs to support all the girls that have been working so hard for this event,” Seitz said. “In light of the tragic events that happened on Sept. 11, I’m glad the Pikes decided to donate the money to such a worthy cause.”