8 minute read
Essick Extends Medal Streak
Matthew Essick treats American fans to another title run and a third straight World Championship medal
Fresh off battling the best in the world at the 18th WCF AC World Championship in London in July, silver medalist Matthew Essick took some time to interview with Croquet News via email on the event and the overall performance of U.S. players.
Three world championship finals in a row — that is a fantastic achievement. It was a tough way to lose in the final, but with some time now have you been able to sit back and appreciate that you are sustaining an elite level of play that is unprecedented for an American player?
It’s always nice to look back on the big picture to appreciate the work put in and how it has helped me reach the level of play where I am now. That being said, I have goals much bigger in croquet than the ones I have achieved so far, and it just inspires me to work harder to get to the next level.
I haven’t yet caught the video for this yet as I picked up the action in the middle of game 3 of the final, but it was reported that you jumped a hoop to hit in on a sextuple leave? Can you describe how that came about?
I have to give the credit to Danny Huneycutt on this one. Danny introduced the pattern of the sextuple to me when I was around 14 years old, and he would always try to jump Hoop 1 if there was space when someone set it against him. That encouraged me to practice it in case the situation ever came up in a match. Fortunately, it did, and I was able to get it.
I understand if you want to pass on this one, but if you are interested in talking about the two big tactical choices in the final — the sextuple and then the TPO — I am sure many players would love to hear your perspective on that.
I would be happy to talk about it. The sextuple in game three was entirely because I thought I had put enough work into the turn leading up to the event, and that I was playing well enough to complete the turn, so I thought it was a viable tactic. It would be easy in hindsight to say I should have taken nine, let him miss and finish the match. I just didn’t think he was going to miss again. As far as the TPO goes, the same thought applies. I thought that I would be kicking myself if I took nine and watched him hit in and finish the match. I decided to do the TPO and create an end game that I was very comfortable with to try and win game five. I missed a short shot trying to rush into corner 2 to get a cannon and the rest is history. I’m very confident in my ability as a player and happy to take on difficult turns because I believe that I’m good enough to complete them no matter the circumstances, and that is not going to change anytime soon.
The event live stream was generally centered on just one or two matches each day. Is there anything overall in the event croquet fans might have missed outside of the live stream?
The quality of the other venues. Each venue introduced a new challenge that all the players had to navigate day in and day out. Roehampton had my favorite lawns I’ve ever played on with speeds reaching up to 14 plummers. It’s a real treat that London has so much quality and variety in their clubs, and they were willing to offer that to us as players in this event.
Twelve total U.S. players were in the event and eight made the knockout. We almost had an all-American final. What do think that says about the level of play in the U.S.?
There are two important things to note on this one. First, the quality of play in the U.S. has improved drastically over the last 20 years. We have more depth than ever before, higher-quality play than ever before, and I think that all the top players get along as well as they ever have. Secondly, the court conditions we faced in London could be described as very similar to the conditions we face in the U.S. They were very flat lawns, easy hoops for most of the event, and the speed was like what we face at most national tournaments. I think it was home away from home for most of our players, which ultimately improves your play and comfortability.
Did you get to see Tom Balding play much and, if so, what did you think about his performance?
Tom was tremendous. Everyone that has had a chance to watch Tom play can immediately see the skill and raw ability. The other thing Tom has going for him is confidence. For a player to reach that elite level, they must believe in themselves and their game no matter the circumstances, and Tom has that trait. The next step for Tom is consistency and performing to the standard that he and all his peers know that he can perform at on a more regular basis. I just can’t be happier for him and his progression over the last two years. Hopefully, he’s a staple in American croquet for years to come.
There’s the Solomon in November and I assume the next two Worlds in the U.S. What else do you have planned for your tournament schedule?
I have the GC Nationals in late September defending my title and will hopefully gain the GC Doubles title as it is the only national championship I am lacking. After that I plan to go to the Egyptian Open in early October, Selection Eights in late October, followed by the Solomon Trophy.
Can you tell us about your work as a club pro? What’s a typical workweek schedule like?
I normally work 40-50 hours a week doing primarily lessons, clinics, court maintenance and scheduling organized play. I work from November to April in Winter Park, Fla., at The Country Club of Orlando and Interlachen Country Club. Then I head up north and work from June to late September at the Quogue Field Club in New York out on Long Island. The other duties include scheduling and running club tournaments, selling and fitting members for mallets and organizing events that our members can participate in to stay active in the game of croquet.
It’s wonderful that we are getting live streaming for croquet events and can see the level of play and the chance to watch the chase for a world title. But, only a handful of players will ever make it to the elite level. As a teacher, do you have an approach around ensuring that players can enjoy club-level play and stay engaged in the sport on that level?
I try to show up to work every day and introduce people to the game of croquet that has brought me so much joy over the course of my life. The strategy, the shot-making, the competition, and most importantly the relationships are what make our game fun. I don’t think anyone I teach wants to be a world champion, nor do I want to try and make them into one. My goal is just to help them find that joy and competitive fun at whatever level they are at and help to improve their game at a rate they are comfortable.
Is there anything I haven’t asked that you would like to comment on?
I want to thank everyone that has reached out to me over the last couple of weeks to congratulate me or offer their condolences. It means a lot and helps numb the pain of a loss that I will never forget. If you know me, you know how much of a competitor I am and how much passion I have for competing and winning at the highest level. This one might sting, but the support means the world to me, and I couldn’t do it without it. I can promise I’ll be back, and I can promise you no one wants to see me on their side of the draw! Love you all.
This interview was condensed and edited for clarity.
