11 Upper Cumberland Marbles Players At Nationals

Kids from Clay County, Overton County, and Standing Stone State Park qualified for the National Marbles Tournament in New Jersey beginning this weekend.

They play the traditional game called ringers which involves knocking marbles out of a ring with a shooter marble. The first to shoot seven marbles out wins.

Gracie and Emma Strong are third generation marble tournament players.

Emma Strong said all kids would enjoy the game.

“It don’t cost anything,” Emma Strong said. “It’s really fun to play too. In ringers, it’s different because I have to play against Gracie.”

Twins Brodi and Maci Dogan are the Overton boys and girls champions. Brodi Dogan said he has been playing for 7 years and this will be his fourth year at the Nationals.

Maci Dogan said you can see the biggest differences between players by watching them plan their shots.

“I wouldn’t say it’s like math, I’d say it’s more like commone sense,” Maci Dogan said. “But like the way we line up the marbles is always the most unique because the angles are just very interesting.”

Brodi Dogan placed seventh in last year’s tournament. Maci Dogan said that since the boys and girls play separately, it was harder for her to place.

“Girls are quite more difficult to beat than boys because they have a lot more to lose,” Maci Dogan said. “So I haven’t gotten to the top ten but I’m still working on it.”

Qualifiers for the National Marble Tournament in Wildwood New Jersey will play in a four day tournament through Thursday.