Class of 2009 caps off first year with best Herndon climb time since 1982

Members of the Naval Academy's Class of 2009 earned the right this morning to be called "youngsters," or second-year midshipmen, as they propelled a Stevensville basketball player to the top of the lard-coated Herndon Monument in the quickest time in 24 years.

About 1,000 freshmen, or plebes, gathered around the monument to get one of their group to the top of the 21-foot-tall granite obelisk, hold him there while he removed a plebe hat, or "dixie cup," that was firmly taped on, and then have someone place a midshipman's cover on the point of the monument.

This year it was Midshipman 4th Class Brian Richards of Stevensville...