Fun times and broken logs at greased pole competition

Wrangell's annual greased pole competition took place last Tuesday, July 2, at the city dock. The event is a popular part of the

city's weeklong Fourth of July celebration. The competition is simple, in theory, but proves to be quite challenging to those participating. A large log is laid out over the water, on the dock's summer float, and covered in grease. Participants then attempt to scale the log and grab a small American flag on the opposite end. Grabbing the flag means winning $100.

A large crowd of people gathered around the dock and the summer float to watch the competition and participate. Each attempt garnered cheers and applause, especially when the attempts ended in somebody falling into the water.

There were several dozen people signed up to participate, however, this year's greased pole competition would come to a close earlier than expected. Rowen Wiederspohn, high schooler, was the 14th person signed up to make a try at the greased pole. His strategy was a little different from previous participants. While other people tried scaling up the log on their bellies, Wiederspohn stayed in a sitting

position and inched his way forward with his hands. He was making very good progress, gathering lots of cheers, and jeers, from those watching. When he was a little past the halfway mark, things became a lot more challenging for him. Wiederspohn, and the pole, began to be sprayed with water from a water gun, while other competition organizers and members of the public began rocking the summer float back and forth. This caused the greased pole to bob up and down, making balancing an even greater task. Despite this, Wiederspohn continued to make progress.

All of a sudden, with a loud cracking sound, the greased pole spit in half. The upper half of the pole, the American flag, and Widerspohn were all sent into the water. Thinking quickly, however, Wiederspohn dived forwards after the fallen end of the log and reemerged clutching the flag. Swimming back to the float with the flag between his teeth, to thunderous applause from the crowd, he was declared the winner of the competition.