Krusty, how many years has the 152 gone unchanged?... There are no surprise about it anymore.
IIRC, you just have to be patient and build speed at high alt, and the energy retention will do the rest.
I did have a spit9 or 13 follow me from pretty much ground level, all the way past 35k, and out perform me at everything but high speed ACM, which we never got to try.
The 152's just a heavy interceptor, with an anemic engine, which means your only advantage is the fuel range, high alt-biased design, clean aerodynamics, and the guns.
As for the 0mph stall, it is a *****, but there is a way to break out of it systematically. I don't remember the details, and it definitely cost you at minimum 5 seconds extra compared to other planes, but it does exist.