Read the history of the Wakamole Trophy here.

On a sunny, cloudy, windy, rainy, hot, and cold afternoon at Mercer County Park, the boats lay at rest, and there was not a student-athlete nor countable coach to be found. After scheduling uncertainty following the delay of midmorning racing, the most hotly anticipated event of NCAA Semifinal day commenced with a few riggers short of a boat, ready to put their reputations and bodies on the line.

Many (last year's victor Northeastern, Brown, Princeton, and Yale) were on duty up the road in Camden, which made for a tighter field. The course, untraditional -some would argue visionary - was comprised of a jungle gym set, water hazards, boat slings, and likely the patchiest grass in Mercer County, and lay ready for what would later be described as poetry in motion. The opening shot was more akin to an Atlantic City Boardwalk game than proper croquet, with contestants sending their balls down a slide toward the first hoop.

Rutgers's Kate 'Pool Shark' McFetridge, embodied the original spirit of the game, constructing and reiterating her implement from found materials in real time as she played. She rounded out the field while showing ingenuity and determination.

Spencer 'Loose Cannon' Kales , stayed true to Longhorn form, relying on unpredictability and brute force in his efforts to get ahead, or to at least detract from his opponents' leads, though it only yielded 6th place. His mallet was probably not the worst ever use of a NK megaphone. (Don't worry, it was already broken and the internals recycled).

'KiloGraham' Ludmer displayed classic stoic Indiana/Midwestern sensibilities, lodging not a single complaint when knocked out by an opponent or overshooting a wicket, instead staying internal and finishing a respectable 5th.

OSU's representative, Jon 'the Sprinkler' Schneider, followed the "Benny the Beaver" method of play. He went straight for the water hazard, but recovered nicely, made strong contact with his shots, and finished 4th.

Tanner 'Good Intentions" Polo from UCF made a strong 3rd place showing in his and his program's first appearance.

A surprise additional contestant was Tanner's father, originally only in attendance to spectate. As a Princeton Man, he stepped up and (unofficially) filled in for the Tigers.

Alan 'the Tractor' Kush, 2014 Wakamole champion, made his first appearance representing the Big Green. He put down a consistent performance, earning him a close 2nd. He chopped through most obstacles in two swings or fewer with a laser-accurate custom steel, 3d printed, and carbon fiber oar shaft mallet.

Veteran Wakamoler UVA Boatman Jeff "Curse-Breaker" Mork, kept his head down, focused in, and put his signature aluminum rigging stick 'putter' to work staying a stroke ahead of the field until hitting that final Wicket. His Cavalier victory neatly bookmarked the 20-year history of the event, mirroring Virginia's 2005 title owed to Roger Payne.

See the unmissable video below!