‘The lawn giveth and the lawn taketh away’: Photos from the 41st Annapolis Cup

Tyrone Turner | April 12, 2025

U.S. Naval Academy croquet team Imperial Wicket Liam Wert holds the trophy above his head

The croquet teams from St. John’s College and the neighboring U.S. Naval Academy held their annual matchup on Saturday, April 5.

The competition takes over the front lawn of St. John’s, which was founded in 1696 in Maryland’s capital city. Thousands attended, many in fancy dress, bowler hats and sporting large “Beat Navy” or “Beat the Johnnies” pins.

The St. John's College croquet team makes their entrance. The Johnnies' uniforms are a well-kept secret, and this year, they were a recreation of the grass croquet court, complete with mini wickets, balls, mallets and clips. — The St. John’s College croquet team makes their entrance. The Johnnies’ uniforms are a well-kept secret, and this year, they were a recreation of the grass croquet court, complete with mini wickets, balls, mallets and clips. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

The Naval Academy's Andrew Wilkinson lines up his shot. — The Naval Academy’s Andrew Wilkinson lines up his shot. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

Left: 'Bowtie Bob' Nelson has been traveling down to Annapolis for the annual croquet match since '$85 ago' — or since the entrance price was free. Right: Sean Callahan was the captain of the Naval Academy croquet team that competed in the first Annapolis Cup. He is also a member of the Naptown Brass Band that performed at this year's Annapolis Cup. — **Left:** “Bowtie Bob” Nelson has been traveling down to Annapolis for the annual croquet match since “$85 ago” — or since the entrance price was free. **Right:** Sean Callahan was the captain of the Naval Academy croquet team that competed in the first Annapolis Cup. He is also a member of the Naptown Brass Band that performed at this year’s Annapolis Cup. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

The Johnnies and the Naval Academy teams line up on the field before play starts. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

Before noon, people were twirling to the Naval Academy’s Trident Brass jazz and swing band. When the St. John’s College Freshman Chorus lined up to sing on the steps of one of the red brick academic buildings, the crowds knew the teams would soon be taking the fields.

The midshipmen exited the building single-file, dressed in pristine white uniforms. The Johnnies, notoriously secretive about their uniforms, made their entrance costumed as the tournament’s grass croquet courts, complete with mini wickets, mallets, balls and clips.

The yearly competition between the small liberal arts college lauded for its “great books” curriculum and the famed school for naval officer training began in the early 1980s. Several attendees recounted the legend that a discussion between a St. John’s College student and the Commandant of the Naval Academy led to the latter’s challenge that his midshipmen could beat Johnnies at any sport. The student suggested croquet. The Johnnies won that first match and, except for the years during the COVID pandemic, the tradition has continued ever since.

The 41st annual Annapolis Cup croquet tournament was held on April 5 at St. John's College between the Johnnies and the neighboring U.S. Naval Academy team. Thousands donned fancy dress to attend the event, which included not only croquet, but swing dancing, a New Orleans-style brass band and choral singing. — The 41st annual Annapolis Cup croquet tournament was held on April 5 at St. John’s College between the Johnnies and the neighboring U.S. Naval Academy team. Thousands donned fancy dress to attend the event, which included not only croquet, but swing dancing, a New Orleans-style brass band and choral singing. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

St. John's Dalton Olsson swings as teammate Angus Preston and members of the Naval Academy's team look on. — St. John’s Dalton Olsson swings as teammate Angus Preston and members of the Naval Academy’s team look on. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

Brynn Myers and Lindsay Irmiter, juniors at St. John's College, wiggle their 'good luck' fingers as they root for the Johnnies. — Brynn Myers and Lindsay Irmiter, juniors at St. John’s College, wiggle their “good luck” fingers as they root for the Johnnies. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

Attendees swing dance as the crowds await the croquet teams' arrival. — Attendees swing dance as the crowds await the croquet teams’ arrival. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

The Naptown Brass Band gets the crowds dancing at the Annapolis Cup. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

The tournament consisted of five croquet games, plus one exhibition match, and lasted until late in the afternoon. The Naptown Brass Band second-lined their way through the venue, keeping feet moving and energy levels high as the day progressed. The well-coiffed crowd lounged on picnic blankets surrounding the croquet courts.

This year’s tournament came down to the last match, pitting the Johnnies’ Imperial Wicket, or captain, Magnus Oberg and teammate Ben Dahlgren against the Navy’s Grant Bartuska and Andrew Wilkinson. Spectators crowded the sidelines, cheering intensely for their team with each thwack of the croquet mallet.

When the midshipmen scored for the win, Navy players and fans rushed the field in a frenzy of white-uniformed jubilation. The Navy’s Imperial Wicket, Liam Wert, lifted the trophy cup above his head. The midshipmen poured water into the cup, taking turns drinking from it in a victory celebration.

Citlali McDowell dons a floral hat topped with a hummingbird for the match. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

Members of the Naval Academy team wait to make their entrance onto the field. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

In the deciding match, supporters for the Naval Academy (top) and St. John's College (bottom) shouted and cheered for their teams. — In the deciding match, supporters for the Naval Academy (top) and St. John’s College (bottom) shouted and cheered for their teams. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

Linda Stilwell Larson, a resident of Annapolis, greets one of the Naval Academy's mascots at the match. — Linda Stilwell Larson, a resident of Annapolis, greets one of the Naval Academy’s mascots at the match. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

St. John's Caden Marshall swings the mallet as teammate Leo Schumwinger looks on. — St. John’s Caden Marshall swings the mallet as teammate Leo Schumwinger looks on. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

Alumni of the St. John's College croquet team, 'Rusty Wickets' Elizabeth Meade (left), Mia Kobylski (a former Imperial Wicket) and Thomas Balding (right) volunteer at the 2025 Annapolis Cup. — Alumni of the St. John’s College croquet team, “Rusty Wickets” Elizabeth Meade (left), Mia Kobylski (a former Imperial Wicket) and Thomas Balding (right) volunteer at the 2025 Annapolis Cup. (Tyrone Turner | for NPR)

As the emotions of the games calmed and the crowds thinned, a group of Johnnies formed a circle on the lawn to sing Palestrina‘s “Sicut Cervus.” St. John’s student Lainey Rendelman explained that the song was from Psalm 42 and translated the words as, “As my heart panteth for you, like a deer for water, so does my soul for you, God.”

“Somehow, it became our unofficial school anthem,” she added.

Reflecting on how unique the Annapolis Cup is in the world of croquet, Johnnie croquet alum Elizabeth Meade said the tournament is “not like playing croquet anywhere else in the world.” One reason is that, unlike other manicured and level courts, the front lawn at St. John’s is bumpy, throwing in a measure of unpredictability. Meade said the joke among players is that, “The lawn giveth and the lawn taketh away.”