CROQUET NEWS: Johnnies Notch 21st Win over Navy

Match Goes on Despite Official Cancellation

21 April 2008
St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland, USA
story by Wendi Winters in The Capital, Annapolis, Maryland, USA
photo by Joshua McKerrow in The Capital, Annapolis, Maryland, USA

Navy's team captain Brian Carlson makes his move at the annual croquet match against St. Johns College.

It was a wacky day in the annals of the already twisted history of the annual croquet match between rumpled St. John's College Johnnies and crisply-dressed Naval Academy midshipmen.

The 26th annual Annapolis Cup match was won by a pair of students in sailor suits, but they weren't midshipmen.

St. John's won 3 games to 2, during the final strokes of the match at 5:10 p.m. This is St. John's 21st victory.

But for awhile, it didn't look like there would be a match at all. At 11 a.m. JoAnn Mattsen, St. John's director of Alumni Affairs, canceled the match.

"The field is closed due to dangerous weather," she said after viewing two large lightning strikes and getting drenched in the downpour that followed.

Ms. Mattsen reluctantly closed the tent erected for the hundreds of St. John's alums she'd been expecting. The St. John's Freshman Chorus was sent away, as was the Naval Academy Trident Brass Band. It was not safe for them to perform outside. Microphones and sound equipment were dismantled and trucked away.

Nonetheless, about 250 people showed up, about 80 percent of the normal turn-out.

At noon, several tents were pitched under scowling, gray skies, and St. John's students chanted: "Where is Navy? Where is Navy?"

The St. John's team, headed by Imperial Wicket Ian Hanover, a senior from Manhattan, were on three courts, taking practice shots with their mallets. Dramatically, the Navy team arrived at 12:20 p.m. The crowd cheered as they strode, single file, onto the Great Lawn of St. John's.

"We're here because we're playing croquet. It's the Annapolis Cup," said Navy's Imperial Wicket, Midshipman 1st Class Bryan Carlson of Downington, Pa. "A little rain can't stop fun-loving people from having a good time."

He was living up to the motto embroidered on each Navy teammate's pristine, white cardigan sweater: "Club 28 — We are not here for a long time. We are here for a good time," referring to the academy's Company 28 which traditionally plays croquet for Navy.

Behind the Navy team came a motley crew of scurvy-looking sailors bearing the nameplate of the U.S.S. Enterprise.

The audience gasped — then laughed in recognition. The sailors were Johnnies. With no music to set the mood, the Johnnies lined up and, in their best imitation of military style, each barked out his or her name.

"We figured it was time for a Navy win," Mr. Hanover said with a grin.

The U.S.S. Enterprise logo stenciled on the shirt did not relate to either the Naval aircraft carrier or the Star Trek series, he said.

"It's just what was on there when we ordered it," Mr. Hanover said.

"I think their uniforms are great," said Midshipman 1st Class Matt Cox, 28th Company officer. "They would not pass inspection at the academy. Maybe in the late 1800s, but not today. But, they look great. Maybe one day, we'll get them in a midshipman's uniform and bring them around."

On a lawn a hundred yards from the action, Lisa and Chuck Gorum and Karen and Bill Kranzer had set up their annual estate. Their patch of lawn was decorated with three tents, four Persian carpets, a lit cut-crystal chandelier, two large urns laden with towering wisteria vines and a dozen folding chairs covered with white cotton slipcovers and sashed with emerald-green tulle. There was also a variety of food, including magnums of champagne, and platters of caviar and smoked salmon.

"We expect 90 friends to come to our party," said Mrs. Gorum. "We don't even realize there's a croquet match going on."

By 1:45 p.m., word had gotten out that the match was on and the crowd's size doubled. By 2:30 p.m., Timon K. Linn, chief of St. John's security, noted that the crowd had swelled to 80 percent of its anticipated size.

St. John's College President Christopher Nelson strolled through the audience.

"It's a pretty good crowd that doesn't listen to cancellation notices," he said, adding that he went to lunch at 11:30 a.m. when he was told the game was canceled and hurried back when he learned the match was on.

"The Johnnie uniforms are better pressed than Navy this year," he said, ignoring the Johnnies' muddy, grass-stained bare feet. "I'm impressed with them this year. Every year they're very clever."

St. John's took the first game. Navy won the second. A half hour later at 3:40 p.m., Tristan Evans-Whilent of Burr Ridge, Ill., silenced the crowd around his court. He tapped in the winning strike, then did a victory lap around the court.

Navy won the fourth match at 5:08 p.m. Lou Calabreze Sr., his wife, Colleen, and grandpa James MacCarry of Philadelphia, had moments to congratulate player Midshipman 2nd Class Lou Calabreze Jr. before another roar went up from the crowd.

On the adjacent court, a Johnnie plunked in the winning strike. It was a squeaker. Midshipmen and Johnnies, together, began chanting "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!"

Within minutes, heavy rain began to fall.