Indianapolis, Indiana – Students at Meredith Nicholson Elementary School 96 recently joined a fast-paced global event that blended competition, teamwork, and childhood excitement into one record-breaking experience. Over three days in mid-November, 350 students from the school became part of a worldwide effort to set a new global mark in the World Sport Stacking Association’s STACK UP! challenge for “Most People Sport Stacking at Multiple Locations.” With 784,036 participants across the globe taking part, the record was officially broken—thanks in part to the students’ steady hands and quick reflexes.
The STACK UP! challenge, organized each year by the World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA), invites schools and youth groups around the world to spend a day speed stacking in an attempt to break a massive participation record. Meredith Nicholson students eagerly accepted the challenge, filling their gym with neat rows of colorful cups, excited chatter, and the rhythmic clatter of stacks being built and taken down in seconds.
Physical Education Teacher Brian Pachciarz, who leads the school’s speed stacking activities, said the event is something students look forward to year after year. “Our students really enjoy speed stacking and the challenge of the annual event of trying to set a new world record,” he said. “They gain a variety of physical and cognitive benefits such as hand-eye coordination, speed, focus, and teamwork. These skills don’t just help in PE—they carry over into the classroom and help build confidence.”
During the challenge, students rotated between different types of stacking cups—mini, traditional, and jumbo—giving them a chance to test a variety of skills and techniques. Many competed using well-known sport stacking patterns, including the famous 3-6-3 sequence that requires precision, rhythm, and quick decision-making. Younger students practiced slowing down their motions, while older students pushed themselves to shave milliseconds off their times using the sport’s standard StackMat timers.
Sport stacking may look simple at first glance, but educators say it supports far more than quick hands. Research from physical education programs across the country highlights how the activity improves motor development, reaction time, spatial awareness, and bilateral coordination, all of which play a key role in reading readiness, memory building, and visual processing. Pachciarz emphasized that these benefits are especially helpful for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, who are at a crucial stage in both cognitive and physical development.
Beyond the scientific and educational advantages, the sport’s inclusiveness may be its greatest strength. Every student—regardless of athletic ability—can participate, find success, and set personal goals. “Speed stacking builds self-esteem, confidence, and teamwork within our students,” Pachciarz said. “It’s an accessible sport where every child can feel successful.”
Teachers at Meredith Nicholson say the event promotes positive energy throughout the school, giving students a chance to try something new, cheer each other on, and contribute to a shared accomplishment. The glowing smiles, high-fives, and lively applause that filled the gym during the STACK UP! challenge made it clear that students weren’t just learning coordination—they were building pride and community.
With a new world record set and hundreds of students now part of a global achievement, Meredith Nicholson Elementary has once again shown how hands-on, fast-paced activities can create lasting memories in the classroom and beyond. As speed stacking continues to grow in popularity, the school is already looking forward to joining next year’s challenge and helping push the record even higher—one cup at a time.
