VISUALS: Repeat victory for Chi Omega as Phi Delta Theta shakes up Tug rankings

Von Smith and Cayden Duncan

April 25, 2026

Greek Week chairs bring out the ropes before the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Von Smith)

Greek Week co-chair Spencer Campbell unpacks the ropes before the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026.
` (Cayden Duncan)

Sigma Kappa junior and tug chair Jaycee Raynes (left) says a prayer with freshman Hannah Vons (right) before the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026.
` (Cayden Duncan)

Kappa Delta sorority was unable to withhold the reigning Chi Omega in the final round of the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Von Smith)

FIJI’s Thomas Feickert does his best to hold the line against Pi Kappa Alpha during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. FIJI eventually exited the first round after losing to Pi Kappa Alpha. (Von Smith)

Tug-of-war officiants knot a pink handkerchief at the center of the rope during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. Teams are not allowed to begin pulling until the handkerchief is drawn tight. (Von Smith)

Farmhouse Fraternity defeated Pi Kappa Alpha for third place during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. The dominant Farmhouse team lost against Alpha Gamma Rho in the third round. (Von Smith)

The favored Farmhouse Fraternity was unable to hold up against Alpha Gamma Rho in the third round of the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Von Smith)

Omega Phi Alpha freshman Camye Cunningham balances on their teammate to stomp out footholes before their turn against Kappa Delta during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Cayden Duncan)

Chi Omega supporters take a break from the festivities during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Cayden Duncan)

Phi Gamma Delta’s tug team do their best to hold out against Pi Kappa Alpha during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. Despite their best efforts, FIJI fell to Pike in the first round. (Cayden Duncan)

Members of fraternities and sororities line the outer perimeter of the tug field, supporting their respective teams during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Cayden Duncan)

Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers took down the barrier as they cheered for the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Von Smith)

An anchor for Pi Kappa Alpha holds down the fort during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. Teams place their heaviest members, known as anchors, on the backend to lock the rope in place. (Von Smith)

Delta Zeta’s coach motivates his team during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. DZ fell in the second round to Alpha Omicron Pi. (Cayden Duncan)

Delta Zeta lost in the first round to Alpha Omicron Pi during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Von Smith)

An Alpha Gamma Rho competitor wears his Sunday best to the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. Alpha Gamma Rho lost in the final round to Phi Delta Theta. (Von Smith)

Alpha Omicron Pi came up short against Chi Omega in the third round of the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Von Smith)

Phi Delta Theta advanced to the final round against Alpha Gamma Rho as heavy rain poured during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Von Smith)

Kappa Delta sophomore Nora Windsor (right) leads her team all the way to the finals, where they fell to Chi Omega during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Cayden Duncan)

Chi Omega tug coach Chaz Wilson rallied the sorority to their second championship win during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Von Smith)

Farmhouse Fraternity watches as their championship contention slips across the line against Alpha Gamma Rho during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Von Smith)

Members of Alpha Gamma Rho’s tug team prepare their footholes before their turn during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. AGR, the reigning champs, were not able to reclaim their title, falling in the finals to Phi Delta Theta. (Cayden Duncan)

Chi Omega’s tug team once again brought a winning attitude to the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. Chi Omega went on to beat out Kappa Delta in the final round, taking home the victory for the second year in a row. (Cayden Duncan)

Alpha Gamma Delta lost in the third round against Kappa Delta during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. Alpha Gamma Delta competed once more for third place but came up short against Alpha Omicron Pi. (Von Smith)

Chi Omega sorority dominated in four rounds to win the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition for the second year in a row at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Von Smith)

David Buckingham watches the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. Buckingham attended the event in support of Alpha Gamma Rho, who made it to the finals but was unable to defend their title for the second year. (Cayden Duncan)

Alpha Gamma Rho tug coach Chaz Wilson directs his team to “hold” during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. Despite a shutout win against Farmhouse Fraternity, Alpha Gamma Rho was upset in the final round by Phi Delta Theta. (Von Smith)

Alpha Gamma Rho tug coach Chaz Wilson yells commands during their tug against Farmhouse at the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. AGR came out on top against FarmHouse, sending them to the finals against Phi Delta Theta. (Cayden Duncan)

Attendees of the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition seek shelter from the rain before the final tug between Phi Delta Theta and Alpha Gamma Rho at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Cayden Duncan)

Chi Omega won the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition for the second year in a row at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Von Smith)

Chi Omega tug coach Chaz Wilson gives his team a pep talk during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. Wilson’s coaching and the work of his team allowed them to take home the victory for the second year in a row. (Cayden Duncan)

Chi Omega tug team members embrace each other in celebration of their victory during the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. Wilson’s coaching and the work of his team allowed them to take home the victory for the second year in a row. (Cayden Duncan)

In a surprise upset, Phi Delta Theta defeated reigning champions Alpha Gamma Rho to win the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Von Smith)

Phi Delta Theta’s tug team drives into a nearby pond following their victory against Alpha Gamma Rho in the finals of the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Cayden Duncan)

Phi Delta Theta sophomore Ross Dezur celebrates following their victory against Alpha Gamma Rho in the finals of the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Cayden Duncan)

Phi Delta Theta lineman Cohen Edwards embraces his girlfriend, Kendall Cash, after winning the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition against Alpha Gamma Rho at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. Phi Delta Theta was seen as an underdog coming into the competition against historically dominant teams such as Farmhouse Fraternity and Alpha Gamma Rho. (Von Smith)

Phi Delta Theta’s tug team pose for a photo after jumping into a nearby pond following their victory against Alpha Gamma Rho in the finals of annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. (Cayden Duncan)

Mud boots litter the Ag Farm Expo pond after the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026. Winning teams traditionally jump in the pond at the end of the competition. (Von Smith)

Following the conclusion of the annual Greek Week “Tug” competition at the WKU Agricultural Research and Education Center on Friday, April 24, 2026, muddy boots float in a nearby pond, where victors traditionally swim. (Cayden Duncan)

About the Contributors

Von Smith

Von Smith, Visuals Editor

Von Smith is a photojournalist from the south end of Louisville currently working as the Visuals Editor at the WKU Herald. Von began working as a staff photographer his freshman year and intends on remaining there through graduation.

Cayden Duncan

Cayden Duncan, Staff Photographer

Cayden Duncan is a sophomore majoring in Visual Journalism and Photography from Louisville, Kentucky. This is his first semester working for the Herald photo staff.