Sunday, December 11th, 12:00 Brace Isles Time (BIT)
The Pond has been nothing but loud for the past month. The Green Ducks’ stadium sits on a plain perched between a mountainous forest to the north and the rocky ocean to its south. Every day, you could hear the fans inside The Pond cheering and stomping for their team. Nature reacts outside The Pond, with nearby animals braying or flocks of birds scared away.
This next week could only get louder. A gaggle of marbles descended from the outside world, packed on ferries or driving through heavy traffic. The last week of the 2022 Marble League drew closer, and this weekend would start the buildup with a bang: Collision practice.
Platforms were placed like a grid inside the stadium. To cheers from the crowd, athlete after athlete collided with each other and tried veering away from the dominoes on the edge. There was an old Fruit Circuit rivalry practicing formations with each other: the Raspberry Racers thought sparring with the Limers would charge themselves up. There was Clutter who, after falling off their stage and hearing boos from the Balls of Chaos crowd, yelled back: “Hey, I don’t care! You’ll cheer for me next season anyway!”
But most fan marbles were looking at the central platform, where Team Galactic’s Starry and the O’rangers’ Clementin had been dueling since the start. While Clementin would add some spin out the gate to practice dodging direct hits, Starry kept shooting straight at their opponent: with force and with intention.
Every few rounds, Clementin would call out, “Whew, Starry, I think I need a break. You’re usually not this aggressive!” All Starry would reply with was: “No, let’s try again.”
Clementin finally had some relief when Starry’s practice time in the stadium ran out, and they rolled out with only Coach Black Hole at their side. But there was no rest as the rest of the O’rangers rolled over, and the whole stadium hollered for the main event: practice duels between the O’rangers and the Pinkies.
Glimmering in the light, the Pinkies danced around each other as they rolled up to the Collision gates. Over the announcer system was Skipper, the Marble League mascot. They belted: “Let’s get Quacking!”
To the loudest cheers, the gates opened. The Pinkies rolled out, shouting a common cry: “WE’RE ALLL INNNN!”
The Pinkies’ Pinky Winky collides with many dominoes in Domino Bowling. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Day in and day out, attending fans at The Pond kept chattering about Rosaka’s finest. Sometimes they were drowned out by the big screens in the sports complex, on which marble sports media figures would straight-up yell: “How do you expect me to say nice things about the Pinkies?!”
It wasn’t just the Pinkies: there was disbelief towards the Shining Swarm, debates over Team Galactic, and confusion over the Bumblebees. The Speeders and O’rangers played second fiddle to the four teams near the top of the League standings. Fans were amazed: what secrets made these teams so competitive compared to last season?
That afternoon, the Captains of those teams were amazed for a different reason. Coming out of practice, each captain found a letter tucked in their locker rooms. Past the letterhead, with a familiar maroon and yellow team logo, each read the message:
“To make this a fair competition, I feel I must offer you advice on managing these final events. None of you have been in this situation, unlike me and my team.
Meet me Tuesday morning at Grayfowl Hill, a decent hike away, for my advice. May the best marbles win.”
– Speedy, of the Savage Speeders
Pinky Toe, however, crumpled the letter up and shot it across the room. “Who do they think they are?” said the Pinkies captain with a laugh. “Speedy has no right to talk down to me!”
Speedy and the Speeders dominate again in the Relay. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Sunday, 15:25 BIT
Shiny would have read Speedy’s letter a second time if not for the blimp. Glimmer, Shimmer, and all of them had just run past and out of the locker room. “Look at those reporters on the grass!” shouted Glimmer. “And those fans in the stands! And the MarBlimp!”
“Hold on! This next gig is a big deal, we need to huddle about it…” Nobody heard Shiny’s words, and the Shining Swarm Captain had to give chase. The letter flew out, whirled in the air, and landed in a pile of athlete uniforms on the floor.
The last event of the day was this spotlight on the Swarm. This was a team just wrapping up four consecutive medal finishes, the best performance streak in Marble League history. Swarm team management agreed to an exhibition sand rally, giving Marblearth a second taste of their record-breaking skill.
What instead awaited the team was having to stand next to the starting gate while a circle of marbles surrounded Shimmer. Skipper, the Mascot of the Marble League, shoved a microphone right up against Shimmer.
The Shining Swarm and the Savage Speeders in an Aquathlon dead heat. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
“Well, that was a Quacking performance on the sand rally this weekend,” asked Skipper. “What we want to do here is to dive into how you felt in the moment. Was there a sinking feeling as Team Primary overtook you in that last second? Or did the competition buoy you to race harder?”
“Um, Aryp and I are friends,” said Shimmer. “I don’t know… I thought I would just race for you on this sand track.”
“Ah, no need to play chicken about your feelings!” said Skipper. The crowd was quiet now, with only the MarBlimp above humming – and Skipper refusing to stop, with questions like: “Would you call the rally fair when an early obstacle hurt so many racers’ chances?”
Shiny and Coach Gleam had rolled into view. “If you excuse us,” whispered Shiny to Skipper. “Let’s just start the race.” Skipper glared at them and turned back right toward Shimmer, tongue-tied.
Shiny was about to just grab the microphone away – if not for a voice that turned everyone around. Shimmer turned and saw a small marble rolling on the edge of the stands toward the whole team, belting out: “Let’s go, Shimmer! Shining Swarm forever!”
“Hey, we need a security marble to catch that kid!” Called out Shimmer. A few seconds later the little marble indeed wobbled, rolled outwards and fell – until two security marbles caught them in time.
Now the stadium was livened up with applause; with Skipper looking the other way, Shiny snatched the microphone. “I’m very happy that that fan is safe,” they said. “Could we just bring them up here to show their stuff?”
Shimmer in pole position on the Sand Rally track. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
The fan gave the Swarm athletes big hugs once brought up to the starting gate. Their name was Sirius; they lived in Galeem all their life; and their parents, along with their bestest of best friends, followed the Swarm back when they performed as The MarBeats.
Before Sirius could list every MarBeat concert they saw, Shimmer asked: “Do you want to race next to me?” “Oh gosh, of course!” replied Sirius.
Shimmer took the microphone: “So, to answer what makes me want to race harder… I race for Sirius.” And thankfully, finally, with a fan smiling next to them, Shimmer darted out onto the kinetic sand.
“What you witnessed was how our team ‘freestyles’ when we practice,” said Coach Gleam to the press afterward. “They are musicians by training, so they practice by feeding off of each other’s energy, with passion, out of love for all our fans.”
Of course, next to the Coach the team members were all chuckling: they knew Gleam was making things up. But maybe Gleam was onto something.
A five-year retrospective on being part of the Jelle’s Marble Runs community
Raindrops compose an ostinato of soft pattering on my window as I sit on the edge of my seat, typing a piece I’ve been meaning to write and struggling to find words for. After publishing over 200,000 words with Project Marblearth in nearly two years, it’s ironic that I’m still figuring out how to express my feelings about the five years I have been part of the Jelle’s Marble Runs community.
Five years ago today, one of my friends messaged me about needing to watch a video they had found reposted on social media. That video could have been about anything, but me, them, and a few other friends huddled around our television later that night to watch what turned out to be the 500-Foot Sand Marble Rally Race. My friends and I were quickly captivated. Greg Woods commentated with so much confidence and excitement that it was impossible not to get invested in watching athletes rush down the expertly-crafted sand track. The athletes themselves performed exceptionally: Comet clawing back their lead from Tarantula, Pollo Loco striding on and off the podium, and even Snake’s Tub’s restart to finish the race in 27th, showed a determination that was inspiring to someone who had been an outsider to sports all their life.
My parents wanted me to be interested in sports at a young age, signing me up for baseball, soccer, basketball, flag football, and other community sports. They tried to get me involved, hoping I would find something I enjoyed and stick with that. I never did. I have vivid memories of lingering on the outsides of each possession, seldom getting close to doing anything significant. It became clear to me when I started playing around with keyboards in storefronts, that music would be the passion in my life sports weren’t. My parents started supporting me from the start, signing me up for piano lessons, attending annual recitals, band competitions, and choir concerts, and motivating me to express myself and have fun in what became my primary hobby growing up. Still, there’s a part of me that wonders if they wished I had been more interested in athletics. Until that night five years ago, I hadn’t wished the same and could have never imagined being into sports.
That all changed after my friends and I watched the 500 Foot Race. As we looked through more videos from Jelle’s Marble Runs, we discovered Marble League 2017 Event 11, which featured athletes on teams competing in an underwater race. I learned by watching the rest of Marble League 2017 that the O’rangers, who set a world record in that race, made an impressive comeback from earlier in the League to win the tournament over the reigning championship team, the Savage Speeders. Mellow Yellow held on to third place over the rookie Midnight Wisps, who made an impressive comeback after accidentally injuring an athlete from another team. That team, known as Team Momo, recruited a reserve to compete with them in their injured team member’s place, demonstrating a pure determination to push through that injury and keep competing. Of all sixteen teams, Team Momo’s narrative stood out as profound and led to me becoming a fan of the team, Jelle’s Marble Runs, and marble sports overall.
Barely one day later, I found one of our community subreddits and made a post introducing myself, my “depression” over Team Momo getting injured, and my excitement for Marble League 2018. The rest, as they say, is history. I spent my earliest days working with MSPN and moderating our community subreddits, then working with the former Jelle’s Marble Runs Committee as one of its first members to bridge the connection between the channel and its fans. More recently, I mixed and mastered the voices of the a cappella group, Time Check, to model cheering chants for the Marble League and facilitated everything achieved through Project Marblearth, including dozens of RetRollSpectives and addenda, Feature Articles, and the newly released Marble Memos. Throughout these five years, I have constantly been creating content to share within the Jelle’s Marble Runs community that developed from a growing passion for marble sports.
What’s in five years? Five Marble Leagues, three Marble Rallies and Marbula One seasons, tournaments from the Amazing Maze Marble Race to Last Marble Standing, unlimited memories that accompany half of a decade of sports events, and the growth of a place as vibrant and passionate as the JMR community. I have been lucky to participate in this community over these five years, to the point where it serves as a constant against personal life experiences that, until now, I’ve left unsaid. In this retrospective, I aim to link these experiences with my experience within the JMR community.
In five years, I’ve built social connections with strangers, peers, mentors, acquaintances, friends, family, and lovers. Not all of these lasted. Strangers, friends, and family drifted away as relationships fell through during rough moments. When it felt like there was nothing but me; the low drone of my laptop running; the ostinato of midnight rain; my infrequent scrolling and typing; my occasionally unreasonable, intrusive, and stressful thoughts – life was isolating and scary. I have learned to treasure the social connections I once had and currently have. Establishing and maintaining my support system reminds me that I am not alone. That reminder gives me the courage to keep on pushing and become who I’ve always wanted to be.
It’s cool to know others like me who have a quirky obsession with marble sports. I’ve been grateful to establish connections with users from The Marblebase Discord to r/JellesMarbleRuns and collaborate with some more closely on committees like the former JMRC and teams within our network of Project Marblearth Contributors. I’ve been humbled to be invited as a special guest on fans’ podcasts, interviewed for fans’ publications, and featured in voicework for videos. While it is sad that our community, beyond what we type into our keyboards and dictate into our microphones, isn’t tangible, I consider it a gift that we can be connected no matter the lengths between us. Our support system, like mine, reminds us that we are not alone and gives us the courage to express ourselves.
I’ve moved multiple times in five years: with my family, alone to college, and into my apartment. Despite having moved earlier in my life, leaving places where I’ve become comfortable calling my home has never gotten easier. However, I have realized that home can be a flexible concept. Home can be a mindset of comfort, not defined by physical boundaries. Home can be wherever I’m with my friends and wherever I’m happy with myself. Home can be places I’ve been, where I’ve learned to build something bigger than myself, and home can constantly be in a state of becoming places: the places where I will become who I’ve always wanted to be.
Despite its intangibility, I’m happy to refer to the JMR community as an “online home” of mine; a place where I feel comfortable with myself and my friends while I work to build something greater than myself. As with all homes, this feeling can be flexible, too. There are moments when this home can feel discomforting, where I and others have made the common mistake of wielding our outbursts like a sword and silence as a shield. Miscommunication is the kryptonite that bejewels our conflicts, so if we can all do something to make this community feel as much like a home as possible, we should aim to be courteous and wise about the words we share. Although we should feel comfortable expressing ourselves, not everything needs to be said, especially if others feel uncomfortable because of our common mistakes.
In five years, I’ve participated in various music ensembles that taught me how to work with others with whom I share a passion for the arts and creativity. As Time Check’s Assistant Director, during a year when we could not sing together in the same room, I learned how to pursue our best musicianship virtually, assembling complex arrangements for our spring concert, “Begin Again.” Keeping music in my life throughout college while pursuing a liberal arts degree led me to realize that I wanted to pursue my passion as a professional career. Within my uniquely challenging senior year, I applied to one of the best colleges for music in the world, auditioned, and was accepted, transferring after receiving my liberal arts degree in May 2021. Over four semesters pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in contemporary writing and production, I have learned invaluable lessons that have helped me become a musician who can use my voice to inspire positive change in the world.
When the JMR community feels like home, it becomes a holy ground for fans to share their passion and creativity and inspire others to join them. If you had told me five years ago that I would write tens of thousands of words about JMR, I would have called you crazy. What could happen if someone wrote a series of interconnected narratives about the strongest sports personalities on Marblearth? Five years of chronicling the origin stories of those personalities have led me to realize the lore of Jelle’s Marble Runs, adapting stories around what I’ve discovered.
Granted, I can’t take sole credit for any of the stories I’ve adapted. Below is an incomplete list of those who have shaped our creative voice for the world of Marblearth. All these fans and more have realized the lore beyond what I, writing alone, could have created. They also taught me invaluable lessons that helped me become a writer who can use my voice to inspire positive change in the world.
Members associated with MSPN, among them Hershy, BobTheGreat, ExcitingPresentation, Lego, Phi, RandomTonio
Members of the former JMRC, among them Alayjo, Betawolfs, DarkArchon, Flare, Foucaulf, Gee, Ghost, Little Mighty, Mellacus, Mesp, Minty, Pax, Novawolf, Smacg13, Spex, Shino, Valencia Parker
Members of the Jelle’s Marble Association, among them The Emperor, MerlinMarble, Orbitball
Project Marblearth Contributors, among them B.J.V., Edu G.J., Ghostly, Nonagon, NordiqueWhaler, Laurent Rollon, Pastelle, Pesky, Phoenix, Piney, PippinPlover, Ramen Powder, Toffeeshop, Vector
Furthermore, it would be impossible for anything we’ve created in the community to take root without those working with JMR Staff, among them: Tim Ritz, whose brand kits have given teams stronger visual identities, Greg Woods, whose expert commentary breathes life into every moment of competition, and Jelle Bakker, whose vision and passion for marble runs, races, and sports have become the defining characteristic that we embody as a community all too well.
In five years, I’ve been lucky to explore the world through my eyes, escaping my comfort zone and learning to be fearless during, among other adventures, eight months of studying abroad. Within that experience, I learned that traveling isn’t about what you see in the world – but how you see the world. This simple metaphor has become a mantra for how I journey through life and aim to tell stories through my writing.
It is a privilege to travel across “the world of Marblearth” and report based on how we experience our adventures. Together, we’ve braved the frigid cold of Glidavik to chronicle the Gliding Glaciers and sailed the tides of the Seven Seas to visit the Oceanics. We’ve unearthed the mines of Ionise for the return of Team Plasma and raced down sand hills to count the Rojo Rollers and uncover the legend of Red Number 3. We’ve glanced upon the lakes, still as marble statues, as Speedy and Red Eye converse, attended tense coach conferences questioning official rulings, and celebrated the highest glory when athletes achieved the championships they sought. We’ve told many stories through our travels, with many more we hope to share.
And yet, many stories are better left unwritten. The words we share as Project Marblearth complement, not supplement, what occurs in JMR and what fans interpret as their headcanon of those events. In five years of participating in this community, I have been astounded to the degree that narratives write themselves, leading the community lore to unfold naturally. What is in writing already exists as the base of our community, where we embody Jelle’s vision and passion and inspire others to create with us. What is left unwritten drifts into the haze, surrounding a misty mountain with nothing and everything that could be possible but would be best left to our imagination.
I wouldn’t trade five years in our community for any time in any other space on the Internet. It is hard to imagine an alternate outcome where I would have finally learned how to appreciate the value of sports, what it means to be part of a passionate fanbase, why we create stories, and who I want to become. Who do I want to become? Someone who not only wants to write “Songs That You Need To Hear” but communicate compelling “Stories That You Need To Hear,” connecting us not simply within a community…but as if we’re home.
The ostinato of midnight rain has faded and dried amidst a brisk, cloudy afternoon as I recline in my chair, reviewing and revising the 2,000 words that compose this article. The rhythm of this retrospective swirls with waves that crescendo and diminuendo like those off the coast of Dunduei, bends with phrases that hang legato over community experiences and personal details like the dunes beyond Felynia, and journeys with a mystery that blurs the boundary between what we read and what we believe, as we do every time we reflect on the history of marble athletes, and in turn, reflect on our lives.
I look up ahead and see the sun shining. Now that I’ve figured out how to express my feelings about the five years I have been part of the Jelle’s Marble Runs community, what’s next? Well, I imagine I’ll keep on rolling.
To Fouc, for proofreading this retrospective To you, the amazing fans that you are We keep on
The official Swing Wave pictogram for Marble League 2022, designed by JMR.
“We’ve shone into victory,” exulted Shiny, watching Sterling smile while rolling their eyes.
“Some would say we’ve risen to the occasion. But it’s really a surprise to all of us.” Sterling looked down, clasping their two golds.
“In fact, we’re spinning around with excitement!” interjected Sparkle, whisking away their team to rouse up their fan section.
Not far from us, we saw Minty Fresh greeting one of the Indigo Stars.
“This hasn’t been our season so far, but we’re happy with how this event turned out,” noted Minty Fresh, “even if we couldn’t match your record.”
“We were astounded when we set that. It almost felt like it was random, and we put so much effort into training!” replied Indie.
“It’s funny how our sport can feel random, right? Your team earns four golds one year; the next, you’re lucky to earn one,” continued Fresh. “We’re feeling better this year with medals.”
“For us, it’s not about medals. It’s about feeling our best.”
We watched Minty Fresh go quiet, presumably deep in thought, as they bid Indie farewell. The captain of Mellow Yellow approached us, alone.
“My team? I sent Yeller and Yellah to meet with coach. But Yellup and Yellim…I’m sad to say…they’re gone.”
We stared blankly at Yellow.
“What happened there?” asked Yellow. “All I said is that Yellup is gone! And Yellim is gone!”
Yellow smirked as we heard two marbles chuckling behind us, before bursting out into laughter. We couldn’t help but join them.
The official Triathlon pictogram for Marble League 2022, designed by JMR.
For some fans, this year’s Triathlon mixed novelty and nods to the past. For JMR, a way to fully realize what they have first envisioned for 2019; for Stinger, a chance to get the medal they fell short of winning back in 2020. The Bumblebees trusted the former Hornet to challenge big names and execute another breakout race. The team’s choice was well-received among the buzzing crowd; the heat boosted confidence, as a last-to-first win ignited fans’ and teammates’ hopes alike.
“We haven’t seen Buzzkill spark with this much excitement since the 2019 Showdown,” stated a journalist, reporting live for Buzznya News Today. The TV cameras captured the thrill of the locals as the final was about to start.
A nearby fan, clad in the Hornets’ black and yellow, took the reporter’s microphone: “I thought I would hate the Bumblebees all my life. But it’s thanks to them that we’re about to win this event.” Victory wouldn’t come exactly how that marble imagined, but for Stinger, the bronze fulfilled the goal to prove they could battle for the top among the best, a dream once out of reach, now more real than ever.
“Atlas Marbura tuning in, this is Atlas Marbura…Glidy and Glacier…hello there?”
We re-routed the main station, greeting the two former athletes reporting from Glidavik.
“It gets dark early up here, so everyone should be asleep…”
Glidy heartily laughed. “Look over the hill, Glacier. Tell me all of those soft-colored lights aren’t TV sets and computer screens tuned into the finals. This could be Frost’s first individual medal since the Marble Sports Games.”
“Twist from Vanillsinki! They’re rolling! Frost is second! They’re coming for you, Cosmo!”
We quickly rerouted to our correspondent from Vanillsinki, who we heard wrestle their microphone back. “Sorry! This is exciting for all of us, as you can hear.”
Nowhere was that excitement stronger than in Polaria. As Cosmo crossed the finish line to win, we watched thousands of Polarians clad in purple, and assembled in a familiar formation, “GAL 4EVER”, cheer.
“ATTENTION!” cheered Stardust. “WE WON THE BATTLE! YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!”
At the royal’s direction, those clad in purple began switching positions with other Polarians. From the skycam, we watched as the formation shifted from “GAL 4EVER” to “GAL 4GOLD”.
“Against Marblearth’s best,” began Stardust, tossing aside their notecards, “our team has walked the sky to reach for the stars. Our gratitude is as absolute as our faith that we will be this year’s Marble League champions.”
Stardust wiped away a tear. “Congratulations, Cosmo.”
Smiling at each other, we moved to turn off the intercom, but paused, hearing one more voice.
“I want all of Marblearth to hear this,” said Starry. “Our captain led us to this moment, and they’ll lead us beyond.”
The official Block Pushing pictogram for Marble League 2022, designed by JMR.
The stars had perfectly aligned for Team Galactic.
“I didn’t realize that we’d broken the record until we heard all our fans going wild,” commented Pulsar. “But we hit the block with everything we had, and it paid off.”
Next to them, Starry looked over the block pushing course and shifted their medal to the side.
“For years,” they started, “I’ve seen fans call us ‘Team Starry’. I hope this proves to everyone that all of you are the stars I know you are. We all won this.”
Taking a breath after an exhausting effort in that event, they finished that sentence with, “We’re Team Galactic. Always have been, always will be. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Off of the podium, Wispy, Wospy, and Rapidly were speaking.
A snippet of the conversation was caught with Wospy crying out, “We’re the Midnight Wisps, we’re supposed to be the best team at block pushing! And we only managed tenth!”
“Wospy…” murmured Wispy, trying to comfort them.
Wospy continued, “We let the fans down, Wispy. We couldn’t do it.”
“Hey,” Rapidly cut in, “You didn’t let your fans down. As long as you’re still out there, racing, pushing blocks, and trying your best, you won’t be letting them down.”
“You really mean it?” replied the Wisp.
“I do,” spoke the Speeder. “We lost our record as soon as we got it, and I don’t think our fans are disappointed. They’re happy to see us out there, trying our best. The clock will strike midnight for you again.”
“It’s the will of the wisps,” affirmed Wispy. “We’ll come back from this. Thank you, Rapidly.”
Meanwhile, Mellow Yellow were all sitting together and smiling. They were just enjoying the moment, taking in the sun and the bronze glow of their medals.
“Do you think we’re gonna win it again this year?” asked Yellim to their captain.
“Who knows?” replied Yellow. “I’m not so worried about it. As long as we’re fighting for it, the journey we’re on will be worth it.”
The official logo for Marble League Showdown 2022, designed by Tim Ritz.
This article focuses on the six teams in Group B that were unable to qualify. For the article that focuses on the six teams in Group A that were unable to qualify, click here.
After months of waiting to see which teams would compete in Marble League 2022, we finally know the sixteen teams that have qualified, including the four that prequalified at the end of the Marble League 2021 and the twelve that competed in Marble League 2022 Qualifiers. And now that we know, Marble League 2022 is in progress! The torch has been lit at The Pond, and all sixteen teams are currently competing for their chance at eternal glory.
In our theorizing, meme-making, and hype-intensifying, we’ve likely rallied behind at least one of the sixteen qualified teams, if not all of them. From Team Primary, who have qualified for the first time since Marble League 2017, to seven-time veterans such as the O’rangers, they all have something unique to bring to the games, and they have brought their all in order to secure their spots. But for fans who haven’t rallied behind any of these teams…a certain tragedy has come with the passing of these Qualifiers.
There are 16 spots in the Marble League each year, meaning that if more than 12 teams are seeking to compete, there will be cuts. Years of main tournaments and the establishment of a B-League, the Showdown, have led us to the system of relegation adopted in 2021: teams are split into two groups of 12, with the six highest ranked teams in each group after four events of Qualifiers advancing to the main tournament. Marble League 2022 Qualifiers repeated this format and expanded the Showdown with 4 new teams, which will restart a system of relegation within the Showdown: after eight events, the bottom four of 16 teams will be relegated within the B-League, and will not advance to the 2023 Qualifiers.
This year saw a mixture of teams get cut after the four events of Qualifiers. Some were beloved fan favorites. After years of being unsuccessful, others were hoping to return to the competition. But none of them can be forgotten. Like the sixteen teams that have qualified, these twelve teams all bring something special to the competition. The difference is the effort put in—either it isn’t “their all” or it’s masked by other teams. And so it goes.
As we await the 2022 Showdown, we would like to reflect on the six teams from Group B that did not qualify for the main tournament. Their stories deserve to be heard, and their legacies deserve to be honored. Any team could be in their position right now.
Let’s roll.
Thunder Shocked
by Stynth
Lightning attempts to take advantage of a boost by Goolime to take second, but is blocked by Rapidly. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
For over six years, the Thunderbolts were a paradigm of consistency in the Marble League. They were the first championship contenders heading into the final event of ML2016, the first overall bronze medalists, and one of four teams that had qualified for every single season…until now. Throughout the four events of Qualifiers, the Thunderbolts had never held one of the six spots to advance to the main tournament. The closest they would get was in the final of the four events: Triathlon, in which Lightning finished third. If they had won, they would have led their team to qualify.
“We’re so tired of seeing our team be consistently average. Seeing the Thunderbolts train here during the offseason has led me to one conclusion: Coach Thunderstorm has to go. There’s no case for them staying if all they’re going to do is misorder athletes and let them skate by once they’ve qualified. All that’s doing is letting us down.”
The fan, sporting University of Stormholm merchandise, identified themself as a student who had witnessed the Thunderbolts training during the offseason and had started a protest group called “Operation Lightning Rod,” to remove their coach.
“When will it end? We almost didn’t medal last season. Consistency doesn’t win the Marble League. If the coach doesn’t understand that, they need to resign,” remarked another student.
“I don’t pay tuition so a Marble League team can use our training facilities and then not qualify. We deserve better!”
When they were requested for an interview, Coach Thunderstorm politely declined, while Manager Static brashly sent out a cease-and-desist to the protest group. In a private interview with Project Marblearth, Shock, Lightning, and Thunder reacted with shame.
“I would have botched the Triathlon as badly as I botched the Summer Biathlon,” claimed Shock. “Putting Lightning in was absolutely the best decision. And they performed well.
“If I had won the event, no one would be calling for this. The problem wasn’t the roster assignment, it was because I knew the stakes going in and underperformed,” explained Lightning. “I got complacent.”
“We’ve all been complacent in the past three years,” admitted Thunder. “If the fans are right about one thing, it’s that we can’t skate by anymore. Being consistently average is hurting just about everyone. And what if it leads to relegation? What then?
We need to do something to change that. As a team.”
Best of luck to the Thunderbolts in Marble League Showdown 2022.
Lime Lapped
by Vector
The Limers have the early lead…with 11 teams left to run. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
The Limers’ experiment with new coach Limelight yielded mixed results in the qualifiers; they ultimately failed to qualify, though they still did better than many had predicted, managing to finish higher than historically successful teams such as the Hazers and Team Momo.
Despite the disappointment of knowing they would miss out on the Marble League for the third time in five years, as they headed back to the locker room they felt not bitterness or regret, but rather a kind of bittersweet acceptance. As team member Goolime put it:
“We’ve been here long enough to know we’re not a top 5 team; not a top 10 or even top 15 team. But that isn’t why we, or at least I, compete anymore. The experience of the Marble League is what I live for – getting to compete up there, with thousands of fans cheering you on and your team backing you up. It’s something you can’t get anywhere else in the world. I’d be a fool to give that up, to go out with a whimper.”
“We’ve got families and steady incomes, we could retire whenever we wanted to. But we don’t, because we don’t want to give up the fans like that.” Team captain Sublime echoed the sentiment of Goolime. “Trust me, with Limelight at the helm, things are looking up already. Our day will come, if not now then one day.”
The Limers’ new coach also gave a speech to the press upon exiting the stadium. Veteran coach Limelight had a brief career in the sport of Bugby on the Cassata team. When asked about the team’s future, they were much more ambitious.
“It’s a shame to miss, it’s a shame, but qualifying was not the goal this time. I need to get to know the gang and see if their mentality needs retooling. But I am absolutely confident, and you can quote me on this, that we can rebuild. My plan is that by 2025, we can become a consistent qualifier and ideally top-ten team. It’s an uphill battle, but I implore you, don’t count us out just yet. We still have plenty more to give.”
Silver Lining
by Toffeeshop
Misty’s early lead in Hurdles dissipates after losing focus and hitting too many of the bumpers. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
The team meeting started poorly. Misty was already a mess inside, stumbling over apologies and empty promises and trying not to drown in their own thoughts as other Hazers spoke.
“Look, I’m the one who got a seventh in Triathlon –”
“It’s my fault –“
“Hazy nominated you for a reason, right?”
The room fell silent, turning towards the last speaker.
Smoggy stared back in confusion. “None of you knew?”
Misty felt the guilt threatening to suffocate them again. “I’m sorry,” they said frantically. “You shouldn’t have trusted me.”
“Misty, wait –” But they’d bolted, leaving behind a tense silence.
Smoggy closed their eyes. “There’s no point in dwelling on this,” they said distantly.
Foggy glanced over at them. “Who are you really trying to convince, Smogs?”
The mist blanketing the area was so thick they could hardly see, save for the familiar outline of Mt. Huaze, its impossible summit looming above them like a silent judge. Misty turned, and there stood Hazy, looking on sympathetically.
“You did your best,” they said gently as if reading their mind.
Shame settled into bitterness. “Why me?”
“You rose,” Hazy said, “while I fell. It was only right to let you continue.” They sighed, moving past them into the fog, towards the mountain. “It’s not your fault. If I’d gotten us autoqualified last year…last year, the year before. Even before this year, I failed so much, and –”
Misty stumbled back as the ground gave way to a sheer drop.
“I couldn’t keep going,” they finished quietly. Hazy didn’t budge, mesmerized by the view below.
They’d never quite left Felynia, had they? “You were more important to us than you ever knew,” Misty said. “And I’m sorry you never realized that, and I’m sorry that we never understood what was happening.” They shook their head. “I should’ve known. They turn on you so quickly. It’s going to happen again.”
“The past repeats itself, yes.” A pause, then Hazy tore their gaze away from the cliff. “But, captain – are you going to weather it out by yourself like I tried to do?”
The breeze picked up, wrapping the fog around them and blinding them even further. “No,” Misty said. “We’ll move forward together.”
By the time Misty got to the rooftop, the early morning hours had begun to seep into the sky. As they joined the four other silhouettes perched on the tiles, the sun broke past the horizon, sending light scattering across the clouds and clinging to their edges like bright silver.
Beside them, Murky said softly, “For what it’s worth, I think Hazy made a good choice.”
It was a new day. There was work to be done, but there was hope, too.
Everything was going to be okay.
Best of luck to the Hazers in Marble League Showdown 2022.
Hurdled
by Stynth
A skip and a jump after the first hurdle cause Momomomo to lose their lead, and finish last in the heat and the group. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Momomo recalled encouraging Momomomo as they stared down the line of hurdles in front of them. “You know what to do. You’ve got this, and you always have.”
Momomomo, the gold medalist of last year’s Hurdles event, who dominated when their team led the overall standings, responded hastily to the line from their teammate. “Right.” The starting gate lifted several seconds later, and Momomomo got a brilliant start, clearing the first hurdle with ease. Their landing was harsh and unforgiving, leaving Momomomo helpless as they lagged behind their competitors. As the others sprinted ahead to finish the heat, Momomomo finished with a time of nearly 10 seconds – the slowest time of every team in Group B.
As Momomomo rolled away from the sand, Momomo watched them click off their radio and leave the arena not towards their locker room, but towards the general backstage exit of The Pond. Watching all twelve athletes huddle at the starting gate for the Triathlon, Momomo noticed similar anxiety coming from Momo’s communication over the team radio.
“I’m concerned I won’t get through the gaggle…I don’t know what to do.”
“Just do your best.”
“Sure.”
Finishing last after 22 seconds, Momo said nothing as they left the same way as Momomomo, turning off their radio. Team Momo had failed to qualify for Marble League 2022.
Mo, Momomo, and Mimo had more questions to ask than tears to shed, firing question after question off to Coach Momomomomo, who seemed to know more about the missing athletes than they were letting on. After some time, the coach checked their watch and motioned across the Pond. “Go to room 108.”
The coach trailed behind the three as they rushed to the room, a VIP suite. There, they found Momomomo easing a red, yellow, and blue artwork onto an easel for display.
“Hi, everyone.” Momomomo still looked distraught, but they smiled as they rolled back to view the artwork. “I’ve had this saved for almost five years…after I got out of surgery, I took painting lessons from Rose and created this artwork to celebrate the next time Team Primary would qualify. I call it…Momodrian.”
“So we didn’t qualify this year. That’s not how we wanted things to go, but it won’t stop us. Until then, this isn’t our moment,” admitted Momo. “But we can be happy for the teams who are having their moments.”
Best of luck to Team Momo in Marble League Showdown 2022.
Ounces of Disappointment
by Stynth
The Oceanics veer towards the edge of the Balancing beam. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
“They put WHO on the roster?”
My annual lunch with Tide, this time at the highly-acclaimed Goosefat on Gadwall Way, had been about as bombastic as one would expect from a multi-millionaire marble sports tycoon. Most of my discussions had been minimized to no more than ten minutes of mapping out the general progress of Project Marblearth’s Phase 2, discussing my earliest opportunities for my academic and professional career in music, debating whether or not porridge is a soup (it’s not), and giving the usual family and friendship updates. Tide dominated most of our conversations with their plans to buy the rights to the Seven Seas Circuit, add an extreme “ring of fire” event, and expand promotion for the tournament beyond the Globular Archipelago and Resinine to all of Marblearth.
By the time we got to the Oceanics’ state of affairs, Tide had handed the check back to our waiter. They then rolled back in their seat and chuckled. “Ounce. You’re sure they didn’t rename Shore?”
I shrugged. “Shore left the team.”
“That’s a shame. It’s sad to see my Oceanics start to look less like my Oceanics. I have to say that I’m exhilarated that I have no role in their decision-making process anymore, but when it leads to results like this, I still wish I could do something about it.”
“What would you do about it?”
“I’d rejoin the team and serve as their captain. And I’d do it for free. You can report that verbatim,” said Tide.
We said no more as Tide received the check, signed off on a hefty tip, and motioned for us to leave the restaurant. At the entrance to Goosefat, we bumped into a marble that we weren’t sure if we recognized, but addressed Tide,
“Coach! So nice to see you. I hope you’re sticking around to ride the wave with all of us in the stands. We need that more than ever in the Showdown.”
Tide beamed. “You bet I’ll be there. Let’s roll.”
Best of luck to the Oceanics in Marble League Showdown 2022.
Lost in the Woods
by Pastelle
The Jungle Jumpers go to extremes, with 3 finishes towards the start of the beam, and one past its edge. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
The Jungle Jumpers finished their failed Qualifiers by earning only 5 points, the least of all 24 teams. Their fan section was bare even before the Triathlon began, where Leap would earn 3 of those 5 points. Hop watched their fan section be eclipsed by the enormous O’rangers crowd as they celebrated their continued streak of perfect attendance.
As everyone was exiting the stands, Hop managed to chat with Frog, one of the Jumpers’ most vocal fans. Frog looked as frustrated as the team themselves. Hop tried to reassure them, but it was no use.
“Why couldn’t I just support a good team? All my friends get to see their teams battling at the highest level, and all I get is to watch my team performing terribly time and time again!”
Frog stormed off and Hop was left behind, tears welling in their eyes. Jump tried to console them, but Hop wouldn’t listen.
“Frog’s right. I don’t want to be part of this team if all we do is fail and fail.”
Jump saw they couldn’t tell Hop to feel better, so they rang up some good friends of theirs: Vine, Bugsy, and Quacky.
“Look, you won’t always be the best, and often you’ll be that one team that everyone thinks is bad. We were unknown when we started MMX, and our fan section was just made up of family and friends, but that didn’t stop us from matching our opponents. You’ll manage to prove everyone wrong if you just keep working at it.”
“When 2018 came around, we were the reigning champions, so people expected us to do well. When we tanked, it felt like we’d let everyone down. Nobody would listen when we explained why we failed, they just laughed at us, but we had fun and bonded as a team. That’s what matters in life, not what marbles think of you, but how you feel about yourself.”
“If it wasn’t for our experience cheering you on in the stands five years ago, we would have never been inspired to host this year’s Marble League. And even in defeat, your humility and charisma is something we as the Green Ducks look up to and try to emulate in everything we do. We’re sorry we can’t compete against you in the main tournament, but we know we’ll be cheering you on in the Showdown!”
Hop stopped crying, taking in a deep breath. “Thanks, Jump. It’s hard to feel like this. I just don’t want to be known for being trash.”
“You won’t be. This Showdown, we’ll be known as a team that doesn’t get relegated.”
Best of luck to the Jungle Jumpers in Marble League Showdown 2022.
Looking Ahead
The hype that surrounds the Marble League each year often obscures the hardships behind the scenes: the difficulty in training to qualify, the struggle in maintaining solid performances, and the challenge of demonstrating excellence, among others. If it was easy, any group of marbles would team up and casually roll past the competition—but it’s not. It takes determination to be involved in any aspect of the Marble League, let alone participate in the main tournament, and it’s admittedly not for everyone.
Nevertheless, the result has been proven to be worth it; it has been rewarding beyond any marble’s wildest dreams. If these six teams work hard during the offseason and do well in the Showdown—pushing their capabilities beyond what they have thought possible—they will rediscover those rewards, as they have in Marble Leagues past.
GROUP B TEAMS: we implore you not to give up, but to move forward. Learn from this, grow stronger, and be excellent. We’re looking forward to seeing you compete again.
The official logo for Marble League Showdown 2022, designed by Tim Ritz.
This article focuses on the six teams in Group A that were unable to qualify. For the article that focuses on the six teams in Group B that were unable to qualify, click here.
After months of waiting to see which teams would compete in Marble League 2022, we finally know the sixteen teams that have qualified, including the four that prequalified at the end of the Marble League 2021 and the twelve that competed in Marble League 2022 Qualifiers. And now that we know, Marble League 2022 is in progress! The torch has been lit at The Pond, and all sixteen teams are currently competing for their chance at eternal glory.
In our theorizing, meme-making, and hype-intensifying, we’ve likely rallied behind at least one of the sixteen qualified teams, if not all of them. From Team Primary, who have qualified for the first time since Marble League 2017, to seven-time veterans such as the O’rangers, they all have something unique to bring to the games, and they have brought their all in order to secure their spots. But for fans who haven’t rallied behind any of these teams…a certain tragedy has come with the passing of these Qualifiers.
There are 16 spots in the Marble League each year, meaning that if more than 12 teams are seeking to compete, there will be cuts. Years of main tournaments and the establishment of a B-League, the Showdown, have led us to the system of relegation adopted in 2021: teams are split into two groups of 12, with the six highest ranked teams in each group after four events of Qualifiers advancing to the main tournament. Marble League 2022 Qualifiers repeated this format and expanded the Showdown with 4 new teams, which will restart a system of relegation within the Showdown: after eight events, the bottom four of 16 teams will be relegated within the B-League, and will not advance to the 2023 Qualifiers.
This year saw a mixture of teams get cut after the four events of Qualifiers. Some were beloved fan favorites. After years of being unsuccessful, others were hoping to return to the competition. But none of them can be forgotten. Like the 16 teams that have qualified, these 12 teams all bring something special to the competition. The difference is the effort put in—either it isn’t “their all” or it’s masked by other teams. And so it goes.
As we await the 2022 Showdown, we would like to reflect on the six teams from Group A that did not qualify for the main tournament. Their stories deserve to be heard, and their legacies deserve to be honored. Any team could be in their position right now.
Let’s roll.
Shining On
by PippinPlover
Indie and Gogo rally their team to fourth in Climbing. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
It all came down to fractions of a second for the Indigo Stars, who narrowly lost a tiebreaker to the Balls of Chaos.
“It’s a total heartbreak.” Captain Indie sighed, “I really thought we’d made it. I have nothing against the Balls of Chaos, but at the same time, I wish it were us up there.”
The stars remained silent for a while before Diego spoke up. “I needed to be a hundredth of a second faster, and we would’ve made it.”
Bingo, who wasn’t even looking at their teammates, disagreed.
“It’s not on you, Diego. I was the one competing in the Triathlon.”
Gogo tried to add something but was cut off by Coach Ringo saying, “You can’t think like that. Trying to find who’s to blame won’t get you anywhere.”
“But-” An unconvinced Indie interrupted, “We’re just going to fade into being that team who exists again. This was our chance to really make it, and we blew it by less than a point. I… I thought it was going to be different this time. I thought we had a shot at making a name for ourselves. But here we are, stuck in the Showdown, doomed to the mediocrity everyone sees us as.” They took a deep breath in, then let it out.
“Indie, please.”
Everyone turned to look at the coach, waiting on what they were going to say next. They made sure to acknowledge that they saw every Star.
“If you think we’re doomed, then we are. You have to have faith in your team, and in yourself. We didn’t qualify, but that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. There’s still an opportunity to win the Showdown, and to prove to everyone that we’re the Indigo Stars and we’re here to stay.”
The other Stars looked around at each other with a newfound determination. They are the Indigo Stars. They are here to stay. They are here to take whatever opportunity they have and truly make something out of the Showdown. The group rolled towards each other and embraced in a big hug. Once they broke it off, the captain rolled over towards the window. As they gazed out that window at the night sky, the clouds began to break.
It was at that moment Indie knew that no matter what happened, the stars would always shine again.
Best of luck to the Indigo Stars in Marble League Showdown 2022.
No-Shows
by Phoenix & Stynth
Royal slips ahead of Diego and Shelly for second in their heat, which would become second in the group. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
The Kobalts, reigning bronze medalists in Marbula One and two-time Showdown victors, had committed to training with all sights on finally qualifying for the Marble League. Coach Sapphire adapted the analytics from the team’s Marbula One success to their preparations for the Marble League. They selected: the Season 2 duo, Cerulean and Azure, to take on Climbing; Royal, the close-out racer who won the Mirage Meowntain GP by executing a clutch last-lap overtake off of the conveyor belt, for Hurdles; and Gnome, their Funnel Endurance gold medalist, for the Triathlon.
In the midst of their shortened offseason, the Kobalts gave sparse interviews during the evenings, when they would play Marbles & Monoliths before bedtime. “We’ve been trying to organize a larger reunion with some of our fellow teams…but they haven’t responded to us,” Royal noted in one instance.
“Perhaps they’re worried we’re going to record some more conversations about their training?” Cerulean pondered, as Royal’s eyes narrowed.
“Let’s not go there. Look, at the heart of this we’re focused on qualifying,” interjected Captain Azure. “After that, we’ll see what happens.”
Yet, a month later, Azure and Cerulean struggled through the first event, feeling more intense pressure from their competition than they had felt in a long while. While Royal soared down the hurdles with mastery, just as they had during training every morning, ultimately all was lost as they failed to pick up enough points after that, and missed out on qualifying by two points.
“To say it’s a disappointment is putting it mildly,” Meepo sighed, looking back at the rest of their crestfallen team. They paused, briefly, before continuing, “But I can’t say we haven’t grown used to it by now.”
The rest of the Kobalts nodded, smiling bleakly in response to the irony of the situation. They began to roll away to the changing rooms, but Azure held back.
“We’re not going to give up. We’ve still got the Showdown, and maybe we do better with less pressure. But we’re going to keep fighting.”
As they prepared for yet another campaign of Marbles & Monoliths, doubts were beginning to creep around as to whether the Kobalts were really prepared enough for the Showdown, but that was yet to be seen.
Best of luck to the Kobalts in Marble League Showdown 2022.
Not Adding Up
by Stynth
Rojo Cuatro finishes Hurdles with a time of 9.477 seconds, only ahead of Radiance in the heat and the group. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
When a graphic was posted to r/JellesMarbleRuns falsely claiming a Rojo Rollers roster update that would have replaced the entire team, Rojo Cuatro almost wished it was true.
The Rojo Rollers athlete was more than a month away from their assigned Qualifiers run, and they had already resigned themself to defeat. They could sprint as fast as possible past the hurdles, and the time wouldn’t add up to anything under 9 seconds. And yet, they were the best on the team. Dos had barely clocked in at under 10 seconds during ML2021, and the other athletes couldn’t adjust to the new format that debuted that tournament. So it was Cuatro’s torch to bear.
“Should one of us do Hurdles?” questioned Rojo Uno after a successful Climbing practice run.
“Not me—I’d fly off the track,” joked Rojo Tres.
“Tres. I’m worried about Cuatro.”
“You and I both know we’re the best duo to take on Climbing. Cinco got last in the Surculo Sprint. Dos is focusing on Funnels. What choice do we have? It took us five years to qualify once. We’re not good at this. But this is the best we can do right now.”
Rojo Cuatro would finish eleventh in their group with a time of 9.477 seconds. They couldn’t make it to the locker room before tears started streaming from their eyes.
“You did the best you could. I’m proud of you,” Coach Rojo Oro said. “It’s on the rest of us now.”
But the team couldn’t carry their weight with fifth in Balancing and Dos’ eleventh in Triathlon, leaving them in ninth overall.
That night, Cuatro was the first to speak up. “I’m sorry, everyone…I knew I wasn’t good enough.”
“Neither was I,” added Dos. “All of our training didn’t add up. We failed.”
“You didn’t believe in yourselves,” responded Coach Oro, sighing deeply. “I watched each of you improve from the first day of our training. But the second you started counting yourselves out, there was nothing I could do but wait for this moment. That’s the reason none of this has been adding up.”
The Rojo Rollers were silent as they departed the locker room and headed towards their hotel – barring Rojo Cuatro, who, in the midst of reporters flocking away from the arena, climbed up to the Hurdles starting gate, clicked their stopwatch, and lurched down the track.
Best of luck to the Rojo Rollers in Marble League Showdown 2022.
Flaking Away
by Stynth
Snowstorm and Snowy, two original members of the team, sulk after their first run in Climbing. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
Barely two months ago, the Snowballs held a meeting unlike any other in team history. Beaming with pride, Manager Avalanche announced their intention to bring two marble sports talents from Osnow, Snowfall, and Snowdrift, onto the team for Marble League 2022 Qualifiers. After being met with immediate confusion from the team members, Coach Blizzard explained that in doing so, they were planning to cut Snow and Snowflake from the roster.
Snow started tearing up. Snowflake, usually the one to get emotional, spoke instead, looking at their coach. “That’s what you want?”
“Snowflake. You know it’s not like that.”
“Then what is it like?” cried Snow.
Manager Avalanche motioned as if they would say something, then hastily left the room. Coach Blizzard broke the radio silence by saying curtly, “You know I wouldn’t have made this choice. But sometimes, we have to accept the marbles around us for what they are. If not, we keep on rolling.”
Later that night, Snow and Snowflake sent official resignation letters to management and left the Arctic Circle, cutting their official associations with the Snowballs. Manager Avalanche got their wish, bringing Snowfall and Snowdrift onto the roster the next morning. Both marbles would perform modestly in Hurdles and the Triathlon, and help lead their team to third in Balancing. Instead, it was Snowy and Snowstorm’s eleventh place in Climbing that sealed the Snowballs’ failure to qualify for Marble League 2022.
Both team members involved in the duo event declined interviews following Qualifiers, as did Snowfall and Snowdrift, who were celebrating their Marble League debut at the Pond Pub on Gadwall Way, named for Mallard’s late parent. Miraculously, we were able to hear from Snowblast, who debuted in last year’s Showdown, as they were gearing up to join their teammates at the pub.
“Morale on the team is more or less what you would expect it to be,” lamented Snowblast. “Things haven’t been the same since Snow and Snowflake resigned, but I think they did the best thing for themselves. As we move forward from this, I wonder what the best thing for ourselves will be.”
Best of luck to the Snowballs in Marble League Showdown 2022.
Scorched
by Laurent Rollon
Ember’s last stand. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
“That was not our proudest moment, we were totally scorched,” Ember said during an exclusive interview after the Qualifiers. At that time, the Solar Flares had just got last place in Balancing. The result put them firmly last in Group A and ended their Marble League qualification hopes once again. The team looked devastated knowing their fate was sealed.
“Looking at the scores was just gut-wrenching. Last in hurdles. Last in balancing. Eighth in climbing. It’s like we’re not even there,” Ember continued.
Heading to the final event, Triathlon, Coach Eclipse assured Ember of the circumstances. “You can take it easy out there, we’re already Showdown-bound again,” the coach said to them in a calm manner.
“So, we’re just going to tank this then. Is that what you want?” Ember replied in disgust.
“I’m sorry. Am I not clear enough?” Eclipse responded in shock.
“We’ve traveled a long way to this big stage just to enter the Showdown on a whimper? I can’t accept that. Our fans, friends, and families deserve a bit of respect.”
With Eclipse standing cold on the sidelines, Ember left them and lined up for Triathlon.
At the starting gate, Ember launched straight into the leading pack. They remained there close up until the water section where they made a final push to snatch a second-place finish, lifting the Solar Flares off Group A’s basement and heading into the Showdown.
Right after the finish, Ember then went to the Solar Flares’ fan section. Impressed by their display, Ember got a roaring reception from the crowd. “EMBER! EMBER! EMBER!” they chanted loudly. The chants gave the marble a surge of confidence.
“We may not be in the big one just yet, but that doesn’t mean we can’t show the world what we are capable of,” said an enthusiastic Ember.
Best of luck to the Solar Flares in Marble League Showdown 2022.
Dashing into Disaster
by Ghostly
Dash…dashes. Into disaster. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)
The Turtle Sliders failed to qualify this year, getting 12th place in Group A with just 8 points. Following a mediocre Showdown and M1S3 season, the Sliders were showing promise, earning medals in the Showdown. Fans believed that this year was the year that the Sliders would qualify for the first time.
The Turtle Sliders fan section quickly filled up, with fans all eager to cheer them on. The excitement in the stands was infectious, as cheers of “Turtle Power!” echoed through the stadium before the events began.
The energy, however, did not carry on throughout the Qualifiers. The fans watched, in disappointment, as the Sliders performed poorly in the first three events, earning only 8 points. The team needed a miracle, and fast. Luckily, they had just the marble for the job.
“We were down, but we still had a chance,” Frank mused. “The final event was Triathlon, in which Dash got a silver during the Showdown. And after Marbula One, Dash has been faster than ever.”
Dash rolled forward, saying, “I had a real shot at it. The track was different this year, so it wasn’t going to be easy, but I knew I could do it. Until…” Dash’s voice trailed off, tears welling.
In the Triathlon, Dash was leading a small trail of marbles and went airborne going into a turn. As Dash hit the wall, Gnome, also airborne, crashed into Dash, knocking them over the wall of the track and into the sand below. They watched in shock as the rest of the marbles finished the race, Dash receiving a DNF.
“I still think there should’ve been some action taken!” exclaimed Squirt, angrily pacing. “Maybe not disqualify Gnome, since they unintentionally shoved Dash, but they should’ve redone the race, or put up a wall so nobody could go over. They should’ve at least given us some consolation points!”
Crush rolled over to comfort Squirt, saying, “I know, Little Dude. But we can’t do anything about it now. All we can do is look to the future, and give our all in the Showdown.”
Best of luck to the Turtle Sliders in Marble League Showdown 2022.
Looking Ahead
The hype that surrounds the Marble League each year often obscures the hardships behind the scenes: the difficulty in training to qualify, the struggle in maintaining solid performances, and the challenge of demonstrating excellence, among others. If it was easy, any group of marbles would team up and casually roll past the competition—but it’s not. It takes determination to be involved in any aspect of the Marble League, let alone participate in the main tournament, and it’s admittedly not for everyone.
Nevertheless, the result has been proven to be worth it; it has been rewarding beyond any marble’s wildest dreams. If these six teams work hard during the offseason and do well in the Showdown—pushing their capabilities beyond what they have thought possible—they will rediscover those rewards, as they have in Marble Leagues past.
GROUP A TEAMS: we implore you not to give up, but to move forward. Learn from this, grow stronger, and be excellent. We’re looking forward to seeing you compete again.
The official Sprint pictogram for Marble League 2022, designed by JMR.
Hours had passed since the Sprint event, and as we welcomed Green Eye into our reporting booth, they noted that their heart had been racing since the starting gate lifted for their record-breaking heat.
“No, don’t worry about me…”
A medical official was passing by in the hallway as Green Eye rolled into the suite, so we hastily called out to them to do a quick wellness check. Recording their pulse after a minute, the medic chucked and nodded to Green Eye.
“Congrats. You’re good.”
Green Eye sighed. “This happened last year, too. Ever since I could contend for the record…but the adrenaline rush pays off. – I just wish I could bring home a medal for it.”
“Ease up on the adrenaline,” the medic advised. “Clear your mind in the final.”
When we met with Rapidly later in the evening, they had forgotten about the provisional record they had set.
“Oh yeah…I forgot about that! Honestly, racking up records isn’t something I stress about. Playing the long game is how I’m successful. I’ve never competed in the event, but it’s like Hurdles. The event doesn’t stop once you pass the hurdle of qualifying or getting through a heat,” explained Rapidly. “There’s a straightaway where you have to best position yourself for the next jump.”
Razzy and Yellow, both Fruit Circuit veterans, opted to do their interviews together. “I’ll let Yellow do most of the talking,” suggested Razzy. “There’s no sprinter quite like them!”
Having earned their third gold in the Sprint, Yellow shrugged. “It wouldn’t feel as good to get back to my best if I didn’t have competition like you. You earned that silver; Rapidly their bronze; Green Eye their record,” insisted Yellow. “I didn’t win any heat or semi, only the final.”
Razzy didn’t know what to say. “How are you this calm?” they asked, having taken a moment to sip their Nondescript Yellow Soda.
“It’s easy. Just keep calm, keep it mellow, and keep on rolling,” said Yellow, winking.
The official Rafting pictogram for Marble League 2022, designed by JMR.
As the Pinkies steered their raft past the finish line, we heard a fan yelping from the Raspberry Racers’ grandstands.
“REDEMPTION FOR 2019! TAKE THAT, YOU MIGHTY DUCKS! RO-RO-ROBUST!”
“RAAASPBERRY!” their fellow fans cheered.
Though disappointed that their host team had placed 7th, Mascot Skipper was enthused by the fans’ excitement.
“Witnessing moments like that brings validation to the work we do as officials and organizers. And it makes our victories all the sweeter!”
“It’s a relief to me, really,” chimed in Coach Berry. “After our first run, I was worried we’d get stuck again like BoC and the Wisps. But my team kept on going.”
“Our team handled their first run like snails,” joked Manager Nectar. “But…”
“Their second run was as good as water striders!” exclaimed Manager Beeline. “They’ve really brought the sting this season.”
“The bumbles are indeed rumbling,” added Nectar. “With Stinger and Hive on the team, the roster has never felt so energized!”
“Buzznya has never been so excited,” Coach Queen continued. “Marbles across our region rooting for the Bumblebees and Hornets as one team, with two ML bronzes… it’s like a bee-ver…I mean, fever dream.”
“Puns aside, we’re satisfied,” finished Beeline.
We caught up with Coach Pinky Promise shortly before the medal ceremony, who had little to say but a large smile on their face. “Why be satisfied when you can be in full bloom?” they asked us, slinking away as we pondered their comment.
We were left with Coach Berry, also on their way to the podium.
“Today, my team made the most out of a dire situation, and as robust as could be, they triumphed. I’m proud of them…but I don’t know if they’re in full bloom. If there’s one team right now who’s seeing green as clear as day, I think we know which team that is.”
And with that, Coach Berry departed, ready to celebrate their podium moment.
The official Funnel Endurance pictogram for Marble League 2022, designed by JMR.
Billy had been right—the Green Ducks recovered from their off day and returned to form. The host team was now sitting in 7th, and Mallard, clenching their silver, had earned their second individual medal in the tournament.
“The flows of a funnel remind me of the rivers I see the ducks swim in a lot. They just float on by, no matter how strong the current. I think this event is quite similar,” the Ducks’ captain reflected while staring dreamily into the crowd.
Next to them was Sterling, the gold medalist of this event. “I never thought of it like a river. To me, it’s like a drum. It’s a steady, precise rhythm, yet you can change it up if need be for the piece you’re performing.”
Glimmer looked up at them, commenting, “And you can do a mean drum solo. And a mean funnel solo, too!”
“I’m not sure what it really is to me,” Rezzy piped up, “But whatever it is, I seem to be good at it. It just clicks with me.”
Now a two-time medalist in the funnels, Rezzy admired their bronze with pride. Something about precision and strategy had always spoken to them. One of their fellow former Fruit Circuit teams was rather happy as well.
Knowing they were ending their run with Mellow Yellow on the best note possible, Yelley had stepped down as a team member to allow Yeller, a rising star from the area of Yarbas, a chance to compete amongst their idols.
“It’s strange going from chasing consecutive championships in a rally-style tournament like the Yarb Hill Sprint to competing in unique events with different rules,” noted Yeller. “But what I liked about this event was that it involved a lot of looping.”
“In that vein,” continued Yeller, “it is like running a sprint over and over again, for as long as possible in each funnel. Once I understood that I felt better about running the event. And I made it to the finals! Not bad for a first spin.”
“I never thought of it like that,” admitted Rezzy. “I’m happy that works for you!”
Yeller laughed. “Whatever it is, I seem to be good at it. I hope I’m making Yelley proud.”
Project Marblearth 