USNA Midshipman 4th Class Ben Leisegang, 20, of 4th Company, from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., places the upperclassman cover on top of the Herndon Monument after removing the plebe Dixie Cup hat, in a time of 2:19:11. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff) (Paul W. Gillespie)
(Tribune News Service) — It was a tall and slippery climb up the Herndon Monument, but 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 around the greasy 21-foot granite obelisk, clenching an upperclassman’s cap in his teeth. He shifted along one side, then supported only by one set of shoulders. Extending his right arm upward, he placed the cap atop the monument.
Success, or so the academy’s Class of 2027 thought. While the upperclassman’s cap was placed, a hat known as a Dixie cup remained secure at the pinnacle, held in place by several pounds of thick grease.
“We have to go back up,” another plebe at the base appeared to mouth to his classmates below, making slashing and pointing motions with his hands.
Now knowing that they needed to replace the Dixie cup with the upperclassman’s cap to succeed, the second climb was better. Stacking and lifting each other up once more, within fifteen minutes, victory was theirs.
U.S. Naval Academy freshmen, or plebes, climb the Herndon monument, a tradition symbolizing the successful completion of the midshipmen’s freshman year. The class of 2027 completed the climb in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds. (Stacy Godfrey/U.S. Navy)
In all, it took 2 hours and 19 minutes for the plebes to raise Leisegang, 20, of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., to scale the monument and complete the Herndon Climb.
“I feel amazing,” he said afterward. “It’s just like a culmination of the whole year, so it’s just awesome. Everyone was so hype to be there and we all got into it, so it’s just the greatest experience of the year so far.”
The annual climb is a tradition for first-year students at the Naval Academy. Together, the plebes scale the monument, typically covered in vegetable shortening, and replace the Dixie cup with an upperclassman’s hat. After completing the climb, the freshman plebes are referred to as fourth-class midshipmen.
The climb is not without challenges, however. To reach the peak, plebes stand on top of one another, sometimes losing their balance from the grease and falling backwards onto their classmates at the base. Plebes on the ground throw their T-shirts to those higher up the pyramid, who use them to wipe off the grease. Throughout the climb, upperclassmen spray the plebes with water. Those on the outskirts of the group clustered around the base were shivering.
U.S. Naval Academy freshmen, or plebes, climb the Herndon monument, a tradition symbolizing the successful completion of the midshipmen’s freshman year. The class of 2027 completed the climb in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds. (Stacy Godfrey/U.S. Navy)
Families, friends and other spectators watched closely as the plebes scaled the monument, taking photos and videos.
Lisa Kendall flew in from Wisconsin to watch her son, Kieran Kendall, take part in the climb. Proudly wearing a golden “Navy Mom” pin, she remembered asking her son if he had a plan of attack to reach the top ahead of time.
“He’s like, ‘No, we’re just going to show up,’ ” she said.
Herndon was also particularly greasy this year. Midshipman 2nd Class Kai Sung, who led the team of upperclassmen organizing the climb, said they placed 300 pounds of grease on the monument — an amount that may be a record, according to Sung, who rose well before dawn to prepare it. The Dixie cup was filled with vegetable shortening as well, Sung said, pointing to a lip of grease visible under the brim.
U.S. Naval Academy freshmen, or plebes, climb the Herndon monument, a tradition symbolizing the successful completion of the midshipmen’s freshman year. (Stacy Godfrey/U.S. Navy)
“I shook it and it wasn’t moving,” he said. “So they [may] have to physically remove it with their head.”
On his second climb, Leisegang nudged the small white hat off the peak using the upperclassman’s hat as a countering force. As the crowd roared with excitement, he flashed a thumbs up before placing the second hat atop the monument, raising his fist in celebration.
The Class of 2027’s feat comes less than a day after they completed Sea Trials, a 14-hour physical and mental challenge that tests the plebes’ teamwork, toughness and mental endurance. The 14th Company was recognized as the Iron Company for their spirit and performance, earning them the honor of rushing at the Herndon Monument first.
U.S. Naval Academy freshmen, or plebes, climb the Herndon monument, a tradition symbolizing the successful completion of the midshipmen’s freshman year. (Stacy Godfrey/U.S. Navy)
Though many were exhausted from the rigor of the day before, the plebes also narrowly edged out last year’s time — the Class of 2026 scaled the greasy monument in two hours and 32 minutes. The class of 1972 holds the record for the fastest climb, clocking in at one minute and 30 seconds, though there was no grease applied.
The monument is named for Cmdr. William Lewis Herndon, who went down with his ship off the coast of North Carolina in 1857 after trying to save as many passengers as possible.
Herndon “defined the concept of honor,” said Vice Admiral Yvette Davids, the Naval Academy’s superintendent.
“Captain Herndon’s story is one of bravery,” she said, “and one that says fight to the end as you will today, 2027.”
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U.S. Naval Academy upperclassmen cover the Herndon monument in 200 pounds of vegetable shortening prior to the Herndon monument climb. The class of 2027 completed the climb in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds. (Stacy Godfrey/U.S. Navy)
U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen Action Group (MAG) collect shoes from the fourth class (freshman) to give to shelters in Washington, D.C., before they climb Herndon monument. The class of 2027 completed the climb in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds. (Stacy Godfrey/U.S. Navy)
U.S. Naval Academy freshmen, or plebes, from the “Iron Company,” from Sea Trials, lead the plebes as they rush the Herndon monument, a tradition symbolizing the successful completion of the midshipmen’s freshman year. The class of 2027 completed the climb in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds. (Stacy Godfrey/U.S. Navy)
