A 9-year-old from Celina has claimed the title of “King of Marbles” after he became the second-youngest champion during the annual National Marbles Tournament in New Jersey recently.
Myles Lacy put Clay County, Tenn., on the map when he traveled to the 101st annual tournament in Wildwood, New Jersey. According to his coach, Lacy shot really well during the preliminary rounds, earning a record of 25 wins and 17 losses. The semi-finals and finals, Lacy was reportedly unstoppable. He gained a record of 9 wins and 3 losses during the semi-finals, sealing his fate for Thursday morning’s finals’ race to the best of 15 games.
Lacy won the first lag, getting a chance at first break. It was 45 minutes later when he secured 8 wins to 3 losses, which gained him the championship crown in the boys division.
Lacy is the second-youngest boys champion in the history of the National Marbles Tournament and the first-ever boys champion for Clay County.
“On behalf of our local ringer marbles team, Coach Brian Cherry, and all our gracious sponsors who make this trip possible every year, congratulations to Myles,” Coach Cherry noted in an announcement.
Lacy earned a $2,000 college scholarship with his national title.
The National Marbles Tournament has been held in Wildwood, New Jersey, since 1922, around the week of Father’s Day. It brings together youth from across the country with more than 1,200 games played over a four-day span. Winners earn college scholarships and bragging rights.
Ringer marbles are played on a painted 10-foot concrete circle. There are 13 “target” marbles placed in an “X” formation in the center of the ring, where players use their shooter marble outside of the painted area aiming at their target marbles. Taking out seven of the target marbles is considered a win.
Players are known as “mibsters.” Mibsters ages 7-14 who win in a local tournament are invited to the national tourney. The National Marbles Tournament awards two winners and two sportsmanship players with college scholarships.
Two other national championships in the boys division hail from Standing Stone in neighboring Overton County. Corey Goolsby claimed the title in 2010, while Wesley Thompson claimed the title in 1992.
Logan Mayberry of Clay County claimed the championship title in the girls division in 2012. Molly Reecer of Celina was crowned champion in 1996, while Amanda Burns of Clay County claimed the title in 1993.
* This article was compiled by staff writer Sabrina Bates (sabrina@richardsonmediagroup.net) from information provided by Myles Lacy's coach Brian Cherry.
