It was a big day for first-year students at the U.S. Naval Academy.

The students have marked the end of their "plebe" year by capping the obelisk known as the Herndon Monument, which is 21-feet high and greased with 200 pounds of lard for the climb.

It took two hours, 35 minutes and 59 seconds for the Midshipmen to remove a cap and place another one on top of the monument. One student suffered minor injuires in a fall.

Gregory Reichel, a 6-6 volleyball player from Hershey, Pa., was the first to reach the top.

The hat Reichel placed atop the monument belonged to his friend -- fellow volleyball player Kristen Dickmann -- who died unexpectely last week.

The academy had considered some changes to the tradition due to safety concerns, but the only adjustment was that 30 midshipmen were chosen to act as monitors. It's believed the tradition started in 1907.

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