Mud Wars!

RITZVILLE – The first annual Mud Wars were held at Lind-Ritzville High School, May 4. The competition features teams of students, dressed in a theme of their choosing, engaging in a tug-of-war in a pit filled with mud. Eight teams of girls entered the mud pit and pulled on the rope, while boys served as coaches.

A team dressed in orange jump suits, calling themselves "The Convicts" won the double elimination tournament. A team dressed as rock musicians calling themselves "Heavy Metal" won the most spirited team award. The team dressed in Hawaiian attire won the best dressed team award.

Mud Wars originated at Pendleton High School (Oregon) in 1995 as a homecoming activity. The original activity, for girls, was to be a powder puff football game, but it was cancelled last minute for fear of injury. A tug-of-war was chosen as a substitute activity, and Mother Nature inadvertently added the mud following a week of rain on the famous Pendleton Roundup rodeo grounds. The Pendleton Mud Wars have been a tradition for more than 25 years and according to organizers ended up being the "best all-inclusive event for girls ever".