Cheryl began playing croquet in 2007 and was the former Director of Croquet at the Hillsboro Club in South Florida from 2007 – 2015. She is a USCA Class I National Golf Croquet Referee & Instructor and was the Chair of the USCA National Golf Croquet Committee from March 2014-March 2023. She is the current District President for Wisconsin and a member of the Milwaukee Croquet Club.

Sara’s sojourn into the coterie of croquet began in 1996 in Central Park when she first joined the New York Croquet Club, which is one of the five original US Croquet clubs. There her organizational and leadership talents were quickly recognized. Within a year or two of joining the club, Sara was asked to join the Board of Directors of the NYCC. In nearly twenty years of service on the Board, Sara served on various committees, serving as secretary for over a decade and finishing her service as president of the club for five years.

Over the past 25 years, David R. Ekstrom has been captivated with the sport of croquet along with his wife Martha (Martie). Shortly after joining the Lenox Croquet Club (Lenox, Mass.) in 1994, they spent a winter vacation on Florida’s West Coast and joined the Useppa Club. They soon began a journey they never anticipated. Ekstrom was given a handicap of 12, which over time moved down the handicap ladder, eventually earning a -2 handicap with 24 tracking points. He was inspired by experienced and new players from all over including several future Hall of Fame inductees. He has continued friendships with many players over the years, a unique feature of the sport of croquet.

Jacques Fournier belongs in the US Croquet Hall of Fame as one of the handful of greatest American croquet players in history. He was a croquet prodigy who, as a teenager, beat the best players in the US and then the world. He was a champion on all levels: collegiate, national and international. Fournier was the first American to accomplish many incredible croquet feats, including winning an international croquet championship. He also made significant contributions to the sport, on and off the court. And, as Fournier’s talents shined their brightest, his star dimmed when his body failed him after he was diagnosed with a genetic neurological disorder: essential tremor (ET).

With competitive fire, Jim Bast set lofty goals for United States Croquet and his skills helped achieve them. He was a leader during a critical time in the history of our sport when the USA was first seeking and obtaining international recognition. Decades later, he is still setting the bar high and making history, both at home and abroad. Notably, he was part of the first USA Team to win the prestigious international Association-Rules Solomon Trophy.

Mohammad Kamal is known to many as the “Father of Golf Croquet” in the United States. Arguably the first great golf croquet (GC) player in this country, he was a pioneer of GC in the US before it became popular. Although many croquet players know him from his superior level of GC play, many more have come to know him through his countless contributions to GC in this country…as a club builder, promoter, teacher, ambassador and tireless advocate of this sport. In that sense, the current popularity of GC in the US can be traced back to his efforts.

Sherif Abdelwahab is one of the most well-known and talented croquet players in the United States. He does it all: Golf Croquet, American Rules and Association ... and he does it exceptionally well. While he has long been a GC expert and champion, he has found a way to master whatever version of the game was thrown his way. 

Rory Kelley’s accomplishments on the court are numerous, but his off-court contributions to croquet are what truly set him apart from the crowd. He has greatly enhanced the sport through his hard work as a club builder, years of tournament management, support of beginning and advanced players and ongoing work at some of the best tournaments in the Western region. His performance and leadership as part of several American teams competing internationally has helped set the tone for future American acceptance and prestige in the croquet world. He has continued to serve the sport as the current USCA Western Regional Vice President since 1994.

Inducted into the Croquet Hall of Fame in 2019, John emerged onto the English tournament croquet scene in 1948 at a time when croquet appeared to be doomed. Only 16, his youth and exceptional ability did much to keep croquet alive. He made remarkable progress and, within 2 years, he played in and won the New Zealand Open Championship and Double Championship.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019, his accomplishments as a competitor are remarkable and rivaled by very few in the country. Just as important, however, are his contributions to the sport as a gentleman and an inspiration.

Harvey Geiger is highly regarded by all who know him well. His enthusiasm, personal commitment, high energy and generosity toward any activity with which he becomes associated is infectious. We are very fortunate that croquet is one of his most passionate interests. His spirited inventiveness sparks the minds of people who know nothing about the game as well as those who were already deeply involved in promoting and developing the sport. 

Ben Rothman’s accomplishments on the croquet court are unmatched in the history of American croquet. Ben is ranked #1 in American Rules and is the only player to hold a -4.5 handicap. In Association Croquet, he is currently the top American player and is ranked fifth in the world. In 2016, he became the first American ever to win the British Open Championship.