HIGH SCHOOL JOURNALISM: 'Pulling' for the Hawks

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By Jena Downs, West Delaware juniorMANCHESTER - Some people sing and some draw. Others wrestle.A few West Delaware students pull.They practice three days a week and dedicate a majority of their summer to Power Train, the Greeley-based rope pulling team.Power Train, coached by Dave Kruse, involves several West Delaware students, including senior Johnathon Rave, a six-year member.“It is one of the most enjoyable things I've done,” Rave said. “It's not easy, but you learn a lot about hard work, respect, and determination.”Rave,who became interested in middle school when his older brother pulled for the team, enjoys the sport and has made friends all over the world.“I've made friends from South Africa, Switzerland, Minnesota, and Wisconsin,” he said, “and we still keep in touch.”Rave and two of his Power Train teammates participated in a competition in Switzerland during the summer of 2012.Rave and West Delaware graduates Brent Reilly and Brody Kruse were part of a group chosen to represent the United States in the competition.The U.S. placed fifth against South Africa, Switzerland, Japan, China, Germany, Sweden and Belgium.A maximum of eight people must be on each side during a pull, with a combined weight under 600 kilos (1322.77 pounds).Pulling the 120-foot rope doesn't come easily at times. Each one- to three-minute tug of war is physically demanding, especially to the hands.“Your hands get blistered and cut up,” Rave said. “It gets to the point sometimes where you have no skin left.”Junior Megan Palmersheim, one of the few girl members on the team, admits pulling wears on the girls faster than the boys during an all day competition.“We girls are working on the upper body strength” in order to improve pulling ability, Palmersheim said.Special boots also are required for rope pulling. Rave invested $250 for boots with a raised heel, enabling his feet to grip the ground better.Palmersheim also purchased the rope pulling boots.“I have to tape my toes because the boots can get uncomfortable,” Palmersheim said.