It was the final match of the Washington Double C Trios State Dart Championship and the game rested on one player.

Needing exactly 42 points to take the title, he confidently toed the line and assumed the throwing position with the poise of a man who’d done it a thousand times before. With a well-rehearsed flick of the wrist, he launched a pair of precisely placed darts and went home a champion.

Postal Clerk 1st Class(SW) John Garcia’s the name and darts is his game. By day he’s Naval Station Everett’s mild-mannered mailroom supervisor, but by night, he’s a dart-throwing champ who, after taking first place in the state tournament Jan. 23, is feared by some of the best players in Washington State.

Many who know Garcia have heard his philosophy on darts or seen his demonstrations of the perfect throw. But even those who haven’t can instantly recognize his passion for the game. When the subject’s brought up, his eyes begin to twinkle as he imagines the perfect toss into the bull’s eye. And his fingers make the motions while he throws a dart only he can see.

“It was almost an addiction,” said Garcia, recalling when he first became interested in darts. “It was like Christmas where you find a new toy and you play with it as much as you can, only I never got sick of it. It’s somewhat like golf. You hit that perfect drive right down the middle and the rest of your game can fall apart but you only remember that one shot that keeps you coming back for more.

“It’s the same thing with darts,” he added. “You’ve got those moments where the game is on the line and you’ve got one dart in your hand to win it. It’s all about that feeling, that rush.”

Garcia, who grew up in San Antonio, Texas, was originally stationed on USS Ingraham (FFG 61) where he was first exposed to the game of darts, before receiving orders to the mailroom of NAVSTA Everett. One of his shipmates onboard the frigate, Culinary Specialist 1st Class(SW) Steve Hollenbeck, was also a state champion and encouraged Garcia to try and find a dartboard with him during a port call in Hong Kong. Despite having never picked up a dart before, Garcia’s competitive spirit wouldn’t let him rest until he’d beat the state champ.

After 15 games, he defeated Hollenbeck, and at the same time, began his love affair with the game of darts.

“I was playing for pride,” said Garcia. “I don’t like losing. I’m very, very competitive.”

His competitive spirit and the game of darts fit together well. From then on, Hollenbeck and Garcia were itching to get off the ship during every port call, but not for the stereotypical women or alcohol. As soon as the ship pulled in, the two were soon headed for the nearest bar with darts on the mind and eager to resume their rivalry. 

In December of 2003, when Ingraham returned from deployment, Garcia quickly found a league of fellow Everett dart tossers in which to pursue his newfound interest. It wasn’t long before he began competing in local tournaments every week.

The habit has since become a beacon of light he frequently scans the weekday horizon for. As Friday comes near, Garcia’s anticipation of the sacred day begins to gnaw at the back of his mind until around 3 p.m. he can think of almost nothing else.