Football, baseball, cheerleading and speed stacking? While the sport of stacking cups may be lesser known than its counterparts, the skills learned lead to their success. And, Hillside Academy for Excellence boasts one of the nation’s largest teams.
More than 100 kindergarten through fifth-graders make up the Stackin’ Eagles–a number that has nearly quadrupled since Physical Education teacher Christi Becker introduced the sport 12 years ago.
“The students really enjoy it,” she said. “We begin with a two-week lesson in P.E. class and then host a schoolwide tournament. This year, Hillside held its first-ever Garland ISD Speed Stacking Championships, competing against other district schools, as well as Mesquite ISD.”
The Stackin’ Eagles will now advance to the Southern Regional Tournament this weekend. There, the team will face off against others from Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas. Hillside hopes to continue its legacy of success.
“In years past, we have won numerous medals and set state and world records. Some students have even traveled to the Junior Olympics in Iowa and Michigan,” Becker commented.
Despite the outcome of this year’s competition, students can already be labeled winners. According to Becker, speed stacking enhances hand-eye coordination, ambidexterity, concentration and reaction time–skills that are all useful in other sports, as well as playing musical instruments, reading and learning mathematic patterns.
Photo courtesy of Christi Becker