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Naval Academy Class of 2028 Triumphs in 75th Herndon Monument Climb

The plebes completed the lard-coated climb in 2:27:31, marking their transition to fourth-class midshipmen and earning praise for their teamwork and readiness.

The Naval Academy Class of 2028 completed the annual Herndon monument climb in a time of 2:27:31 and are “Plebes no more!” (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
The plebes get to work. The Naval Academy Class of 2027 completed the Herndon Monument Climb in a time of 2:19:11. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
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Overview

  • The Class of 2028 completed the Herndon Monument Climb in 2 hours, 27 minutes, and 31 seconds, officially ending their plebe year.
  • Augustus “Gus” Russo, a 6-foot-5 midshipman from Summit, New Jersey, placed the upperclassman’s cover atop the monument at 10:32 a.m.
  • The climb, a 75-year tradition, involved scaling a 21-foot obelisk coated in 200 pounds of vegetable shortening, requiring significant teamwork and perseverance.
  • Superintendent Vice Adm. Yvette Davids commended the class for their mental, moral, and physical preparation, describing them as distinctive from the start.
  • The event honors Commander William Lewis Herndon and symbolizes the plebes’ transition to midshipmen, a key milestone in their Naval Academy journey.