Unable to successfully defend a fifth straight title, faculty member Eric H. Crump (left) gratefully received the 2008 Kumbayah award from Maria Erling in the 7th annual croquet tournament held in the Schmucker Grove on the campus of the Lutheran Theological Seminary, April 23, 2008. Crump was defeated in the first round by former student Brent Hege, who returned for alumni days to wreak havoc on the veteran winner.

First year seminarian Brandon Johns (middle) played a spirited first round, then blended into the weeds, awaiting his time to pounce with poison on second place Joyce Bankert. Emmy Isaacson was recognized for "best dressed" in the spirit of the day.

First year seminarian Brandon Johns took the championship in a hotly contested final round. Crump indicated that despite his efforts in mallet design, including the fabrication of two new persimmon wood mallets, he fell short in a year when "there was a target on my back" and "so many were out to get me." "Wait till next year," he concluded.