Cup stacking a sport? Philly has two of world’s fastest

In 5.44 seconds flat, Zhewei Wu can assemble a set of 12 plastic cups into a complicated formation, then take it apart.

Yes, that's a competitive sport. Wu is one of the fastest in the world.

He is 14, an incoming freshman at Central High who, along with friend Steven Wu, is a member of the U.S. Sport Stacking team. The pair demonstrated their talents for a rapt audience at Wednesday's Philadelphia School Reform Commission meeting.

Superintendent Arlene Ackerman praised the two, and called speed stacking a "captivating new sport that is growing rapidly in recognition and value around the world."

Dressed in U.S. Sport Stacking t-shirts, Zhewei and Steven, who are not related, calmly set up and demolished sets of cups - blue for Zhewei, green for Steven - and talked about the sport.

They stood at an ordinary conference table, cups resting on rectangular rubber mats with timers attached.

"At first, I thought it was pretty stupid, actually," Zhewei said.

That was three years ago, when McCall Elementary School gym teacher Mark Sykes introduced it to their class.

Now, the two have competed against teams from all over the world, and speed stacking is a club in more than 30 district schools. The district holds two citywide tournaments a year.

"I have about 30 kids who are really hard-core cup stackers," said Sykes, who occasionally gives stacking a shot himself, but confesses to be way off even Zhewei and Steven's slower times.

This spring, Sykes helped them raise $2,000 so they could compete in the World Speed Stacking championship in Denver. There, their relay team placed first.

"It was really cool," said Steven.

Officials hope to grow speed stacking in city schools. Zhewei and Steven hope to find a sponsor for a speed stacking club at Central, where they'll start Sept. 7.

Despite spending at least an hour a day practicing and having a big following on YouTube - Zhewei's channel has thousands of views - they're just regular guys, they insist.

"He's, like, geek squad," Steven said, pointing to Zhewei. "Good at technology and stuff. Makes his own videos."

Zhewei nodded.

"He likes basketball," Zhewei said, pointing to Steven.

But Ackerman, for one, thinks their speed stacking skills are pretty special. Speed stacking promotes right-brain development, eye-hand coordination, concentration, fine motor control and sequencing skills.

"Just in case you think this is not an important sport," Ackerman said, "I want you to know it is."