It was a tall and slippery climb up the Herndon Monument, however Ben Leisegang did it twice.
Balancing precariously on the shoulders of two Naval Academy plebes stacked in a human pyramid at its base, Leisegang outstretched his arms across the greasy 21-foot granite obelisk, clenching an upperclassman’s cap in his enamel. He shifted alongside one aspect, then supported solely by one set of shoulders. Extending his proper arm upward, he positioned the cap atop the monument.
Success, or so the academy’s Class of 2027 thought. Whereas the upperclassman’s cap was in place, a plebe’s hat often called a “Dixie cup,” which was to have been eliminated, additionally remained safe on the pinnacle, held in place by a number of kilos of thick grease.
“We’ve got to return up,” one other plebe on the base appeared to mouth to his classmates beneath, making slashing and pointing motions along with his fingers.
Now figuring out that they wanted to switch the Dixie cup with the upperclassman’s cap to succeed, the second climb was higher. Stacking and lifting one another up as soon as extra, inside quarter-hour, victory was theirs.
In all, it took 2 hours and 19 minutes for the plebes to boost Leisegang, 20, of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, to the highest of the monument and full the Herndon Climb.
“I really feel wonderful,” he stated afterward. “It is similar to a end result of the entire yr, so it is simply superior. Everybody was so hyped to be there and all of us bought into it, so it is simply the best expertise of the yr thus far.”
The annual climb is a practice for first-year college students on the Naval Academy. Collectively, the plebes scale the monument, sometimes lined in vegetable shortening, and substitute the Dixie cup with an upperclassman’s hat. After finishing the climb, the plebes are known as fourth-class midshipmen.
The climb isn’t with out challenges, nonetheless. To achieve the height, plebes stand on high of each other, typically dropping their stability from the grease and falling backward onto their classmates on the base. Plebes on the bottom throw their T-shirts to these greater up the pyramid, who use them to wipe off the grease. All through the climb, upperclassmen spray the plebes with water. These on the outskirts of the group clustered across the base have been shivering.
Households, buddies and different spectators watched carefully because the plebes scaled the monument, taking images and movies.
Lisa Kendall flew in from Wisconsin to look at her son, Kieran Kendall, participate within the climb. Proudly sporting a golden “Navy Mother” pin, she remembered asking her son if he had a plan of assault to achieve the highest forward of time.
“He is like, ‘No, we’re simply going to indicate up,'” she stated.
Herndon was additionally significantly greasy this yr. Midshipman 2nd Class Kai Sung, who led the group of upperclassmen organizing the climb, stated they positioned 300 kilos of grease on the monument — an quantity which may be a report, in keeping with Sung, who rose properly earlier than daybreak to organize it. The Dixie cup was stuffed with vegetable shortening as properly, Sung stated, pointing to a lip of grease seen below the brim.
“I shook it and it wasn’t transferring,” he stated. “In order that they [may] need to bodily take away it with their head.”
On his second climb, Leisegang nudged the small white hat off the height utilizing the upperclassman’s hat as a countering drive. As the group roared with pleasure, he flashed a thumbs up earlier than inserting the second hat atop the monument, elevating his fist in celebration.
The Class of 2027’s feat comes lower than a day after they accomplished Sea Trials, a 14-hour bodily and psychological problem that assessments the plebes’ teamwork, toughness and psychological endurance. The 14th Firm was acknowledged because the Iron Firm for its spirit and efficiency, which allowed members to hurry on the Herndon Monument first.
Although many have been exhausted from the trials of the day before today, the plebes additionally narrowly beat final yr’s time — the Class of 2026 scaled the greasy monument in 2 hours and 32 minutes. The category of 1972 holds the report for the quickest climb, clocking in at 1 minute and 30 seconds, although there was no grease utilized.
The monument is called for Cmdr. William Lewis Herndon, who went down along with his ship off the coast of North Carolina in 1857 after making an attempt to avoid wasting as many passengers as potential.
Herndon “outlined the idea of honor,” stated Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, the Naval Academy’s superintendent.
“Captain Herndon’s story is one among bravery,” she stated, “and one that claims combat to the tip as you’ll immediately, 2027.”
© 2024 Capital Gazette.
Go to at capitalgazette.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content material Company, LLC.
© Copyright 2024 Capital Gazette. All rights reserved. This materials will not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
