CROQUET NEWS:  Mids Edge Johnnies in Annual Croquet Match

25 April 2005
The Capital, Annapolis, Maryland, USA
story by Vanessa Franko
photo by Alison Harbaugh

Navy's Adam Todd gets ready to hit the ball as teammate Alex Plumer looks on.

As soon as the Midshipmen clinched their victory yesterday with the crack of a blue and black ball against a wooden stake, dozens of fans stormed the rectangular field at St. John's College, flinging beer into the air, jumping in unison and cheering for Navy blue and gold.

The scene on the lawn wasn't a re-enactment of last season's football victories, it was in celebration of the Naval Academy's win in the Annapolis Cup croquet match against St. John's College. It was the mids' first win over the Johnnies since 2001 and only their fifth in the 23 years of the tournament.

"It was great to have the crowd behind us," said Midshipman 2nd Class Eric Watt.

He and his partner, Midshipman 2nd Class Dustin Wood, came from behind to defeat St. John's students Christopher Mules and Tristan Evans-Wilent in the final match to lead the academy to a 3-2 win, despite the Johnnies' recent win in the 2005 national collegiate croquet championship.

"It's a tough loss. It was really close. We're used to winning it and it makes it harder to lose but it's a great win for them," said St. John's player Tommy Dyer.

The annual classic was postponed from Saturday because of a threat of rain. Yet hundreds suffered through yesterday's cold, rainy afternoon, rewarded with only the slightest bit of sunshine. In past years, crowds in good weather crowd have topped 1,000.

Those dedicated to the art of the tailgate were among the faithful, complete with tents and umbrellas. Others, like James Wrigley, Bryan McNeilly and Dana Kulp, brought the comforts of home.

The trio of St. John's students brought a blue couch from their dorm to the sidelines of the center court. They carted it outside at 2:30 a.m. yesterday to claim their spot in front of one of the yellow, red, black and blue croquet stakes, close enough to hear every mallet-on-ball smack. The trio said they weren't worried about any water damage.

"Hopefully, our bodies will keep it nice and dry," Mr. Wrigley said.

People spread out blankets and picnic baskets over the wet hillside where a few yellow dandelions peeked through the green grass.

Around them, spectators sipped fine wine out of glasses while others guzzled less-expensive brands straight from the box. Some smoked cigars and pipes and others opted for cigarettes.

"I was expecting Preakness and what I see is a birthday at Chuck E. Cheese," said John Baccus of Annapolis, who came out to watch the event for the first time.

Many of the attendees were decked out in suits and dresses, ranging from tasteful period pieces to garish mismatched plaid.

The St. John's team was closer to the fashion victim side with their theme "Napoleon Dynamite," wearing homemade T-shirts with "Vote for Pedro" on them and 80s-style headbands and short shorts to pay homage to the movie. The team also entered the field to the theme song from "The A-Team."

"The costumes are designed to catch them off guard," said St. John's player Paul Patrone of North Carolina.

The mids were dressed in crisp white pants, white sweaters with a gold N and colorful ties.

On the field , blades of grass dirtied the mids' white shoes and the Johnnies' less formal footwear like Birkenstock sandals and Converse sneakers.

Midshipman 2nd Class Michelle Matthews, one of the croquet players, said officers gave them some leeway about the grass stains and dirt on their uniforms but that it did require some extra cleaning work.

"It gets really frustrating," she said.

Many of the players and spectators alike said the event brought the two colleges together, even if it's only for one day a year.

St. John's alumni came back to see the event and catch up with old friends.

"You don't realize how much of a community this place is until you come back," said Ian Morochnik , a former croquet player who traveled from Durham, N.C., to watch the event.