The annual croquet competition between St. John’s College and the U.S. Naval Academy brought thousands of spectators to Annapolis, Maryland.

As Jessica Forres reports… the sport acts as a bridge between the rival schools.



Lavish picnics and nearly 2000 people…many of whom are dressed like characters from the Great Gatsby… are spread out across the lawn in front of St. John’s College.

They are watching the 27th annual Annapolis cup…. a croquet match between the college's so-called Johnnies and the Midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy…

JoAnn Mattson is St. John’s Director of Alumni Relations…. She says the tradition started in 1984.

SOME MIDS AND SOME JOHNIES WERE ARGUING ABOUT MAYBE THEIR MASCULINITY, I DON’T KNOW AND THE MIDS CHALLENGED THE JOHNNIES TO COME UP WITH A SPORT THAT THEY COULD BEAT THE MIDS AT. THEY SAID WE CAN BEAT YOU AT ANYTHING. AND THEY THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID CROQUET.

Though the two schools are across the street from one another, she says ideologically they are miles apart.

UNTIL THIS EVENT STARTED, WE DIDN’T HAVE A MIDDLE MIXING GROUND. AND THERE COULD BE SOME ANIMOSITY AND OVER THE YEARS AND I KNOW THERE WAS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.

Colonel David Mollahan..clad in uniform... agrees.

THE TYPE OF PEOPLE WHO GO TO THE NAVAL ACADEMY AND THE TYPE OF PEOPLE WHO GO TO ST. JOHN’S THEY HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH THEY LOOK AT THE WORLD AND YET THEY COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A NICE EVENT.

Watching from the sidelines, Craig Martin, the owner of a barber shop in Baltimore, is rooting for the Midshipmen.

I GET MORE CUSTOMERS FROM THE US NAVAL ACADEMY THEN ST. JOHN’S

St. John’s won the contest yesterday for the 22nd time since the tradition started.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News