National Marbles Tournament

Last updated

National Marbles Tournament
Marbles Oak Ridge 1945 (6986738418) (cropped-J1).jpg
Marbles in 1945
Tournament information
SportMarbles
Location Wildwood, New Jersey
Month playedJune
Established1922
Number of
tournaments
101
Formattournament
Website nationalmarblestournament.org
  • Boys Myles Lacy (Clay County, TN) [1]
  • Girls Katelynn Gaumer (Cumberland, MD) [1]

The National Marbles Tournament is a United States nationwide marbles tournament for boys and girls aged between 8 to 14 years of age, [2] held annually at the Ringer stadium, Wildwood-beach, Wildwood, New Jersey, in a 4 day marble tournament for boys, and a separate one for girls, after which, the national champions are decided. [1]

Contents

History, qualification and prizes

To qualify, invitations are sent to the champions/winners of local marble tournaments from participating towns, cities, and counties from all over the United States, such as the National Rolley Hole Marbles Championship at Standing Stone State Park, [3] and the Allegheny County Marbles Program, [4] , and the now defunct Marbles Tournament of Beloit . [5]

Marble shooters (players), are known as ‘mibsters’, not only compete for national honors, but often for college scholarships (worth $2000 in 2014), [6] watches, and many other prizes and awards. Over 1,200 games of marbles are played in event, which was first held in 1922, with the girls event added in 1948. [1]

Three-time Houston Rockets NBA All-Star Steve Francis, played in the event in 1986. [7]

The 100th Annual National Marbles Tournament took place in 2023. [2]

The events history and former champions can be viewed at the National Marbles Hall of Fame in Wildwood, which was established in the early 1990s, at the George F. Boyer Historical Museum, then moved to its current location (2022) in the Greater Wildwood Chamber of commerce. [8]

Rules

Each player must use a shooter, in size, not more than ¾" in diameter and not less than ½" in diameter, and should be made from glass or stone. [9] The shooter size will be confirmed before play commences. [9] Thirteen standard glass 5/8" marbles (all identical), are used as target marbles, and placed in the centre of the ring in an 'X' shape, with one target marble in the centre, and three on each leg spaced three inches apart. [9] Players should maintain foot contact with the wood border for each shot. [9] Players can shoot, lob underhand, or roll their shooter, and try to shoot out the most marbles before the last inning is over to win. Or any player who shoots out seven marbles is the winner. [9]

Wildwood Marble Champions (1922 onwards)

Reference for Boys Champions: [10] Reference for Girls Champions: [11]

YearBoys ChampionGirls Champion
1922Bud McQuade (Baltimore, MD)-
1923Harland McCoy (Columbus, OH)-
1924George Lenox (Baltimore, MD)-
1925Howard Robbins (Springfield, MA)-
1926William Harper (Bevier, KY)-
1927Joe Medvicovich (Pittsburgh, PA)-
1928Alfred Huey (Akron, OH)-
1929Charles Albany (Philadelpha, PA)-
1930James Lee (Columbus, OH)-
1931John Jeffries (Greenville, KY)-
1932Harley Corum (Louisville, KY)-
1933Aaron Butash (Throop, PA)-
1934Clifton Seaver (Springfield, MA)-
1935Henry Altyn (Throop, PA) [12] -
1936Leonard Tyner (Chicago, IL)-
1937Bill Kloss (Canton, OH)-
1938Frank Santo (Throop, PA)-
1939Harry DeBoard (Landenburg, PA)-
1940James Music (Huntington, WV)-
1941Gerald Robinson (Scranton, PA)-
1942Charles Mott (Huntington, WV)-
1943Dick Ryabik (Pittsburgh, PA)-
1946Benjamin Ryabik (Pittsburgh, PA)-
1947Don Sklar (Pittsburgh, PA)-
1948Herbert Turman (Beloit, WI)Jean Smedley (Philadelphia, PA)
1949George Wentz (Huntington, WV)Emma Miller (Canton, OH)
1950Bob Retzlaff (Montgomery, AL)Kay Allen (Greensboro, NC)
1951Shirley Allen (Beckley, WV)Ida Jean Hopkins (Cleveland, OH)
1952Russell Gwaltney (Salem, VA) [12] Dorothy Hobbs (Augusta, GA)
1953Jerry Roy (Huntington, WV)Arlene Riddette (Yonkers, NY)
1954Bob Hickman (Huntington, WV)Wanita Kucher (Philadelphia, PA)
1955Raymond Jones (Pittsburgh, PA)Karen Olson (Niles, OH)
1956Fred Brown (Beckley, WV)Lynette Watkins (Philadelphia, PA)
1957Stanley Herold (Summersville, WV)Lois Fusco (Yonkers, NY)
1958Dennis Kyle (Richwood, WV)Jeannette Merlino (Yonkers, NY)
1959Matthew Wysocki (Wilkes-Barre, PA)Sandra Stefanchik (Yonkers, NY)
1960Tommy Meade (Yonkers, NY)Christine Zamojsky (Yonkers, NY)
1961Ace Millen (Yonkers, NY)Anita Danyluk (Niles, OH)
1962Mark O'Mahoney (Pittsburgh, PA)Peggy Mullen (Pittsburgh, PA)
1963James Donohue (Springfield, MA)Patsy Coon (Philadelphia, PA)
1964Clarence Bower (Mullen, WV)Claudia Davis (Yonkers, NY)
1965Gary Malcolm (Elkhart, IN)Jacqueline Izaj (Pittsburgh, PA)
1966Melvin Garland (Pittsburgh, PA)Marcella Elliott (Wilmington, DE)
1967Barry Blum (York, PA)Patricia Yurkovich (Pittsburgh, PA)
1968Rudy Raymond (Reading, PA)Debbie Webb (Yonkers, NY)
1969Glenn Sigmon (Wharton, WV)Maureen Regan (Lawrenceville, PA)
1970Ray Morgano (Pittsburgh, PA)Karen Yurkovich (Pittsburgh, PA)
1971Rick Mawhinney (Cumberland, MD)Cheryl Elliott (Wilmington, DE)
1972Ray Jarrell (Whitesville, WV)Kathy Pazkowski (Pittsburgh, PA)
1973Doug Hager (Whitesville, WV)Debra Stanley (Reading, PA) [12]
1974Larry Kokos (Pittsburgh, PA)Susan Regan (Pittsburgh, PA)
1975Richard Unser (Pittsburgh, PA) [12] Sharon Woolworth (Reading, PA)
1976Jeff Rice (Cumberland, MD)Judy Bosiljevak (Allegheny County PA)
1977Walt Morgano (Lawrenceville, PA)Dianne Kopicki (Reading, PA)
1978Dean Feinauer (Reading, PA)Diane Bertosh (Lawrenceville, PA)
1979Danny Stamm (Reading, PA)Kris Alfiero (Reading, PA) [12]
1980Sandy Nesmith (Arnett, WV)Brenda Schwartz (Pottstown, PA)
1981Jeff Kimmell (Cumberland, MD) [12] Joelle Guiles (Reading, PA) [12]
1982Mike Moore (Cumberland, MD) [12] Lisa Stamm (Reading, PA)
1983Kerry Acord (Arnett, WV)Patricia Kimmel (Cumberland, MD
1984Gregg Yakich (Pittsburgh, PA)Nicole Stamm (Reading, PA)
1985Jon Jamison (Reading, PA)Amy Thompson (Cumberland, MD)
1986Giang Duong (Upper Darby, PA)Darlene Schwartz (Berks County, PA)
1987Chad Reber (Berks County, PA)Lori Dickel (Ridgeley, WV)
1988Dan Strohecker (Reading, PA)Shannon Capasso (Pittsburgh, PA) [12]
1989Nicky Piatek (Pittsburgh, PA) [12] Donna Rothenberger (Reading, PA) [12]
1990Carl Whitacre (Ridgeley, WV) [12] Alison Reber (Oley, PA) [12]
1991Brian Shollenberger (Reading, PA) [12] Dawn Lancaster (Cumberland, MD) [12]
1992Wesley Thompson (Standing Stone, TN) [12] Trish Tressler (Frederick County, MD) [12]
1993David McGee (Pittsburgh, PA) [12] Amanda Burns (Clay County, TN)
1994Bong Duong (Upper Darby, PA) [12] Kim Shuttleworth (Allegheny County, PA) [12]
1995Jason Williams (Clarksburg, WV)Stephanie Zlokas (Pittsburgh, PA)
1996Nathan Thompson (Monroe County, KY)Molly Reecer (Celina, TN)
1997Michael Thomas (Upper Darby, PA)Megan Winkelman (Frederick County, MD)
1998Ben Nelson (Middletown, MD)Emily Martin (Frederick County, MD)
1999Doug Watson (Greencastle, PA)Kathy Stehlik (Perry Hall, MD)
2000Andrew Martinez (Grand Junction, CO)Larin Miller (Pittsburgh, PA)
2001Tim Ratliff (Washington Co., MD)Kristie Vanderzee
2002Jonathan Hulse (Washington Co., MD)Morgan Kellman (Middletown, MD)
2003Jeremy Hulse (Hagerstown, MD)Jennifer Pinciotti (Frederick County, MD)
2004Aaron Nees (Mesa County, CO)Carly Miller (Allegheny County, PA)
2005Jamie Miller (Allegheny County, PA)Amy Nees (Mesa County, CO)
2006Keith Moss (Allegheny County, PA)Melissa Ashwood (Gunnison, CO)
2007Nick Anderson (Mesa County, CO)Alexandra Bauer (Pittsburgh, PA)
2008John Laffakis (Pittsburgh, PA)Amber Ricci (Pittsburgh, PA)
2009Ricky Brode (Cumberland, MD)Whitney Lapic (Shillington, PA)
2010Corey Goolsby (Standing Stone, TN)Penelope Bauer (Pittsburgh, PA)
2011Brandon Matchett (Allegheny County, PA)Bailey Narr (Allegheny County, PA)
2012Caleb Isaacson (Gunnison, CO)Logan Mayberry (Clay County, TN)
2013Cooper Fischer (Middletown, MD) [6] Emily Cavacini (Allegheny County, PA)
2014Dominic Rudakevych (Middletown, MD) [6] Marilyn Fischer (Middletown Valley, MD) [6]
2015Devon Loewendick (Cumberland, MD)Emily Simkovich (Lansdowne, PA)
2016Louie Lee (Mesa County, CO)Haley Grenesko (Pittsburgh, PA)
2017Eli Murphy (Allegheny County, PA)Sierra Ricci (Allegheny County, PA)
2018Joshua Johnston (Ambler, PA)Madison Johnson (Allegheny County, PA)
2019Spencer Hays (Gunnison, CO)Lauren Young (Frederick County, MD)
2022Todd Kmiecik (Middletown, MD)Jessica Johnson (Cape May County, NJ)
2023Isaiah Garcia (Philadelphia, PA)Jessica Thompson (Middletown Valley, MD)
2024Myles Lacy (Clay County, TN [1] Katelynn Gaumer (Cumberland, MD) [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Wildwoods Crown the King and Queen of Marbles at the 101st Annual National Marbles Tournament". wildwoodsnj.com. 20 June 2024.
  2. 1 2 Eddie Davis (20 June 2023). "Wildwood's National Marbles Tourney Celebrates 100 Years". wfpg.com.
  3. ↑ "National Rolley Hole Marbles Championship and Festival". tnfolklife.org. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  4. ↑ "Allegheny County Marbles Program". alleghenycounty.us. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  5. ↑ Phil Kerr. "Mibs & Mibsters". beloithistoricalsociety.com. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Trudi Gilfillian (19 June 2014). "Champions crowned at the National Marbles Tournament in Wildwood". pressofatlanticcity.com.
  7. ↑ Trudi Gilfillian (16 June 2014). "National Marbles Tournament begins in Wildwood". Press of Atlantic City.
  8. ↑ Patrick Lavery (27 October 2022). "Wildwood, N.J Hasn't lost its Marbles - Its kept them for 100 years". nj1015.com/.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tournament Rules and Equipment" (PDF). nationalmarblestournament.org. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "National Marbles Tournament – National Boys Champions". nationalmarblestournament.org. 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  11. ↑ "National Marbles Tournament – National Girls Champions". nationalmarblestournament.org. 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Look Back at Wildwood's Marbles Tournament". pressofatlanticcity.com. 6 June 2014.
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