CROQUET NEWS:  Wickets Ready for Croquet Rematch

Genteel Meeting Between Johnnies, Midshipmen Set for Saturday

14 April 2010
St. John’s College, Annapolis, Maryland, USA
story by E. B. Furgurson in The Capital, Annapolis, Maryland, USA
photo by Joshua McKerrow in The Capital, Annapolis, Maryland, USA

St. John’s player Jonathan Tincher takes a stroke as teammate John Fleming, left, and Midshipman Luis Luy chat during a rainy practice session Tuesday at St. John’s College, where the midshipmen will meet the St. John’s croquet team on Saturday.

With midshipmen dressed in starched whites and Johnnies donning whatever the muses suggest, the Naval Academy and St. John's College will meet Saturday to determine this year's winner of the Annapolis Cup — a collegiate croquet grudge match running nearly 30 years.

The two teams met yesterday for a damp practice on the official field of play, the front lawn of St. John's College.

"We have a couple of tricks up our sleeve. We will see if they work out," said Navy's imperial wicket, Midshipman 1st Class David Cole. He said his teams hoped to beat their rivals this weekend and next week at the U.S. Croquet Association Collegiate Championships in Pennsylvania.

Cole is a member of 28th Company, the designated croquet company for the academy, but no mallet whiz until now.

"I had never even heard of croquet before I got here," said the native of Colorado Springs, Colo.

As a plebe he caddied for the upperclassmen, which mostly means keeping them in beer or other beverages. "I tried out the next year and made it," he said.

His counterpart, St. John's Imperial Wicket Cameron Coates, a senior from Chicago, showed up several minutes late for the practice session. But he was on a mission. He brought 12-packs of Red Stripe beer, the "official" energy drink of the St. John's croquet team. Or so he said with a grin.

He modestly described the challenge ahead, admitting there might be an advantage for the St. John's team - leisure time. Johnnies are what you might call less regimented than their well-drilled and structured opponents.

"We get to play all the time," he said.

And they study Euclid, the Greek mathematician often described as the "Father of Geometry."

"Euclid definitely helps," Coates said with a smile.

But he acknowledges the midshipmen are a strong team. "If you forget that, it can lead to disastrous results," he said.

The match has been held each spring since 1982, when the commandant of the Naval Academy told St. John's freshman Kevin Heyburn the midshipmen could lick the Johnnies in any sport.

"Croquet," was the retort and the gauntlet was tossed. Actually, it was less dramatic than that.

Heyburn returned to campus and saw a croquet set in the hall by the library and knew immediately that was it. To be safe, he first asked to make sure St. John's could field a team. The imperial wicket (i.e., team captain) of the young campus croquet club said he would indeed compete.

Letters were exchanged through channels between the two campuses, and the match was on.

Since then, midshipmen have had to limp back across King George street in defeat 22 out of 27 years.

Outside of the competition the event has evolved into a rite of spring. Hundreds of spring worshippers picnic on the lawn, many arriving hours before the first ball is struck at 1 p.m.

Many arrive decked out in spring fashions, often frocks and finery one would have worn frolicking in a scene from "The Great Gatsby."

On the court midshipmen adhere to U.S. Croquet Association de rigeur whites with a different team tie every year.

Johnnies revel in surprise, showing up at the last minute in the uniform of the year. One year it was camouflage shorts, another kilts, still another red shirts with Soviet hammer, or mallet, and sickle.

Coates would give no clues as to this year's garb.

"It will be inspired," he said.

There are lawn parties serving champagne, pate, crudites. Tables, chairs, tents or blankets cover most of the lawn, save for the three 100-by-50-foot "courts."

It is a portrait of Southern gentility reflecting the gentlemanly comportment of the players - no mallet mashing or trash talking allowed.

Of course, others are there for the party, man. Often held in the springiest of spring weather, the gathering is a good excuse for revelry amid the poplars lining College Avenue. One hears both corks popping and beer cans cracking open. But overall, folks are on their best behavior.

The event is a magnet for St. John's alumni who travel from all quarters to cheer on their fellow Johnnies.

"I could not have imagined it would get this big," said Heyburn, who won't make it up from Texas for this year's match, but will be there in spirit. "It was just good to see the students do it again the next year."