CROQUET NEWS: Ceremonial Rivalry Precedes Annual Croquet Match

16 April 2008
St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland, USA
story by Wendi Winters in The Capital, Annapolis, Maryland, USA
photo by Colleen Dugan in The Capital, Annapolis, Maryland, USA

Challenge, Banging Cutlery Part of Pre-Game Traditions

St. John's College junior Micah Beck and Midshipman 1st class Chris Familetti of the Naval Academy joke around while practicing for the upcoming croquet match Sunday.

Trying to divine what St. John's students will wear for their 26th annual croquet match Sunday against the midshipmen of the 28th Company is like trying to read the future in the tea leaves of a Long Island tea.

The hot sun enticed a couple males to strip to their waist, the better to show off their new T-shirt, which featured a saucy take on the famous old World War I Navy recruiting poster. The artwork, painted by JoAnn Mattson, director of alumni relations, features a female flapper in a man's sailor suit. "Gee, I wish I were a Johnnie," she says. "I'd beat the Navy at Croquet."

"Gilmo Big Shot Slim," also known as senior Charlie Gillmartin of Alexandria, Va., admired Ms. Mattson's artistry.

For a pugnacious opening shot, maybe the paintbrush is mightier than the croquet mallet.

Mr. Gillmartin was also holding his first beer of the day, seemingly part of the standard sports equipment for Johnnie croquet players

Though footwear is required by croquet rules, several Johnnies were playing with their bare piggies wriggling in the fresh spring grass.

"We usually play in our bare feet," said senior Rachael Boyce, 22, of Westminster. "Nothing's more fun than coming out on a fine afternoon and playing croquet."

St. John's Imperial Wicket, Ian Hanover, 23, of Manhattan, N.Y., will play his second spring match against the mids.

"I picked up croquet at the end of sophomore year," he said. "Just as something to do. That, and playing the Naval Academy is something hilarious. We're playing this ridiculous lawn game and 3,000 people are cheering this. It's great! The most fun you can have.

"We are the football team of St. John's," Mr. Hanover said.

Glancing at his coveralls, he shrugged off any suggestion it might hint at his team's possible top-secret costume for the event.

Each year, the team's garb is kept under wraps. Even team members don't know until the last moment. One year, they scandalized Cold War warriors with their Soviet-style crossed scythe and croquet mallet logo and fake Russian accents. Last year, they made amends by dressing as The Boss - Bruce Springsteen, complete with patriotic do-rags.

"Nobody's clear about the costume this year," he said mysteriously. "I haven't made a decision. As for the game, our strategy is to win. Beat them. But, not too bad. Every now and then, Navy needs a loss."

Mr. Gillmartin said he's heard that "the costume this year is Lawrence of Arabia and pink underwear."

A few minutes after 4 p.m., the Navy team strode up in unison - all 16 of them. In their all-white cardigan letterman sweaters, white pants, shirts and shoes, they looked very Jay Gatsby.

Unlike the football team, this team has to walk and carry their mallets. They don't have a fancy new giant logo-slathered semi-tractor trailer truck to haul their stuff.

Navy's Imperial Wicket, Midshipman 1st Class Bryan Carlson, 23, of Downington, Pa., asked his St. John's buddy: "I like this beard thing. Is it your secret?"

Beyond June week, Midshipman Carlson is heading to school in South Carolina to become a submarine officer. It's his third spring match-up against the Johnnies, though he said they've played against them at nationals about 12 times.

"The Johnnies have the home-court advantage. They know the roll of the grass," he said. On the other hand, he pointed out an advantage to both sides: "Their wickets are wire, easier to shoot through."

Ms. Mattson said the croquet match is part of a long, festive alumni weekend. This year's theme centers around the novel "The Great Gatsby," and the jazz-era lifestyle of Roaring 20s. One of the highlights is a midnight dance Sunday night at which the victors receive the Annapolis Cup.

This Friday, the Johnnies are invited to the academy's King Hall for lunch. There, the St. John's Imperial Wicket will issue the traditional croquet challenge, and the mids will bang their cutlery on glassware and tabletops to drown him out.

It's all part of the fun.

Beyond the pre-game bravura, the two teams actually like each other.

"It's really good to hang out with those guys," Midshipman Carlson said. "The competition lasts one day, but friendships last forever."

Wendi Winters is a freelance writer living on the Broadneck Peninsula. Next year, her son will join the ranks of midshipmen at the Naval Academy.