Kids find more to cup stacking than it seems

At first, Pat Krech could not understand the attraction to people stacking cups. "When this started, I said to myself, 'You're stacking cups. What is so fun about that?' " he said. "Then I saw it on ESPN. I heard about world records and state records. I'm floored it is growing as big as it is."As the school's physical education teacher, he first introduced sport stacking to Butterfield School four years ago. The kids loved it."The kids learned once they understand the patterns and began to practice, they became significantly better," he said.Krech wanted to open up something to all grade levels and decided this year to create a speed stacking club. Krech said the kids don't worry about being a fast runner or high jumper. In this sport, they do not race against each other; they race against the clock. "If you're willing to put in the time and practice, you can be very good at it," he said.To play, students up stack and down stack cups in predetermined sequences. Sequences are typically pyramids in three, six or 10 cups. Krech said the sport helps the students improve hand-eye coordination, ambidexterity and teamwork. Club members meet every Monday afternoon to practice until the holiday break. Some try to fit in extra practice at home."When I have free time, I'll get them out and work on it," said fifth-grader Dillan Ronne, who can do the 3-6-3 sequence in four seconds.The club will then resume next April to hold an end-of the-year competition. "I hope I can get eight seconds or lower in the cycle," third-grader Rohan Kanianchalil said.Fifth-grader Megan Gahart said she hopes if she and her doubles partner, Ronne, can complete their pattern in 15 seconds, they can perform in front of the school.But Krech is encouraging the students to consider joining tournaments outside of school. He said their enthusiasm to do better and compete could lead to them becoming life-long stackers. "It is one thing to practice at home at the table," he said. "When you compete in front of people, it's a whole different ballgame when you're stacking."Fourth-grader Nick Markos already hopes to join other tournaments to interact with others who like the sport and to show what he can do."It would be fun to speed stack on front of a lot of people and show how fast I can stack," he said. 512344Butterfield School fifth-graders Megan Gahart, left, and Dillan Ronne demonstrate doubles stacking while locking arms during the Sport Stacking Club at the Libertyville school.Paul Valade | Staff Photographer 466512Butterfield School fifth-graders Megan Gahart, left, and Dillan Ronne demonstrate doubles stacking while locking arms during the Sport Stacking Club at the Libertyville school.Paul Valade | Staff Photographer