The team of 15 pullers and 15 moralers pulled more rope than its “Odd Year” (sophomore class of 2029) opponent, with a 47-foot and two-inch gain. This year’s Pull was another very close contest. In the 2025 competition, the “Even Year” class won (as sophomores – class of 2028) with a 49-foot, seven-inch gain of rope.

The Hope College Pull — one of the longest college traditions in the country — took place for its 129th year in Holland, Michigan, at Hope College on Saturday, Sept. 26. 

Each team sported 15 students in their individual shallow pits, tugging for three hours on the 600-foot wet rope that weighed 1,500 pounds. By their side was a “moraler,” a teammate responsible for relaying strategic tips to their puller, while also keeping them focused and motivated. The moraler takes cues from their team “caller” who stands high above its team, giving strategic visual cues when to “heave” or “strain.” Photo galleries from the Even Year and Odd Year teams are available for viewing on their social media sites. 

The annual competition fuels a rivalry between the even-year and odd-year classes, or the freshman versus the sophomore class. Juniors serve as coaches for the freshman team, while the sophomores are coached by seniors. The win-loss record over the decades favors the sophomore classes and “Even-Year” teams. There’s a sports adage, though, to the effect that any team can beat any other on any given day, and no Pull team relies on the weight of history to assure the outcome. The 2024 Pull winning class was the “Even Year” class (freshman - class of 2028) gaining 58’ 7” of rope.

The Pull tug-of-war is believed to have first been held in 1898, continuing each year except for five years: In war years (1918, 19443 and 1944); in 1957 during a flu epidemic on campus and in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

More Pull History:

• The Pull Through the Decades - video and history: https://hope.edu/offices/student-life/pull/

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