US Marbles Championship is here!

Shannon Georgevich and Jeremy Hulse kissing the US Marbles Cup in 2003.

By Daveen Rae Kurutz
Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, July 31, 2008

Marbles mania has hit Allegheny County, bringing hundreds of mibsters with it.

For the first time in its 16-year history, the U.S. Marbles Championship will be held in the Pittsburgh region, bringing marble shooters and enthusiasts from across the country.

The championship will be Saturday and Sunday at the North Park Ice Skating Facility in McCandless. The tournament, open to anyone over age 14, has been held in Middletown, Md., since its founding. The relocation was spurred by county officials' desire to lure a major marbles tournament.

"We do have a great history with marbles here in Allegheny County," said Kevin Evanto, spokesman for county Chief Executive Dan Onorato. "It's good, clean fun, it's competitive and it gets kids outside. We have been, for several years now, wanting to get one of the big marbles tournaments here because we're such a center for marbles and mibsters."

For each of the past five years, Allegheny County has produced either the boys or girls champion for the National Marbles Tournament. This year, both champs hailed from the county -- Amber Ricci, 12, of Shaler and John Leffakis, 14, of Lawrenceville.

Don't confuse the National Marbles Tournament with this weekend's event -- they're very different, said organizer Ed Ricci, Amber's father. The National Marbles Tournament, held each year in Wildwood, N.J., is open to shooters younger than 14. Once someone wins a national title, he or she can't compete again.

That's where the U.S. Marbles Championship comes in. Past winners -- including Leffakis, Amber Ricci and 2007 girls champ Alexandra Bauer -- can compete in the tournament, open to anyone who registered by Tuesday. Ed Ricci said he expects 50 to 100 competitors. His daughter is just excited to compete in her second national tourney this summer.

"I've always wanted to compete in it, and it's a great opportunity," said Ricci. "It's just interesting to play, and anybody can do it. I think I'll do pretty good, maybe win a couple rounds."

The tournament was started by Jeff Kimmell of Tennessee, formerly of Maryland. Relocating to Allegheny County made perfect sense, considering its history of marbles madness, he said.

"It's great for the event. Pittsburgh's almost like the mecca of marbles," Kimmell said. "You couldn't ask for a better city than Pittsburgh to host this event."

Evanto said county officials are considering installing a permanent marbles playing area in North Park, something they hope will cement a future of magnificent mibsters.

That's entirely possible, Ed Ricci said. Officials are talking about moving the tournament to the Pittsburgh area permanently or holding it here every few years. With the long-standing tradition of shooting marbles in many families, Ed Ricci said there's no doubt the county will continue to turn out champions.

"It grows through families, where one winner teaches another how to play. They still have the interest even if they didn't win," he said. "You reap all the benefits of your success."