The Teams You’ve Missed in Marble League 2022 – Group A

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.

Let’s roll.

Credits

ML2022 Memo #8: Sprint

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.

Credits

ML2022 Memo #7: Rafting

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.

Credits

ML2022 Memo #6: Funnel Endurance

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.”

Credits

ML2022 Memo #5: Relay

The official Relay pictogram for Marble League 2022, designed by JMR.

“We’re back!” Minty Fresh exclaimed as they received their bronze among the rest of their teammates. “We’re back at last!” With their medal, the Minty Maniacs had risen from last to 13th overall.

“This is just the first of so much to come,” promised Minty Swirl, adding, “We’re in Mint Condition!”

The rest of the team joined in, repeating “Mint Condition” as their fans began cheering along.

Meanwhile, Red Eye and Speedy were grinning at each other. “Well played.” The Crimson Cat commented to their Marbula One rival with a wink, “But my team is winning next year.”

The Speeder glanced at the Cat’s Eye, smiling as well, with their medal glinting in the light. “Best of luck to you,” said Speedy, “but we’re planning to keep up this streak.”

Far from the podium finishers sat former relay winners, the Green Ducks, taking in their last place. “I don’t know what happened.” Ducky started.

“Our handoffs were rough,” Billy continued, sighing. “But I think we’re just having an off day. We’ll be back up there soon. “

“We’re going to fly up the standings like the flock we are,” added Mallard.

The Ducks rolled away, talking about strategies for next time. Meanwhile, the podium finishers started to chant each other’s cheers in celebration of another great race, motioning to their fans to join in.

Credits

ML2022 Memo #4: Water Race

The official Water Race pictogram for Marble League 2022, designed by JMR.

Six years ago, Rima had been a few lengths from earning their first medal.

Something about the ebb and flow of the event had appealed to Rima when they volunteered to run it in ML2016. In ML2022, they were determined to try again.

“I wasn’t expecting to be standing on the podium. I just went out there, tried my hardest, and look! The first medal for Team Primary in years!” The Rimarkable athlete looked at their medal with great satisfaction.

Suddenly, an “OOOOO” cut through the air.

“We’ve done it!” Mandarin cheered, surrounded by their teammates. The O’rangers were certainly riding the wave of their Marbula One victory.

“I knew you were the right choice for this event.” Coach Rango remarked.

Pinky Promise said something similar to Pinkydink.

“I finally have a medal of my own!” The reserve laughed as they spoke while looking out over the course.

Pinky Panther exchanged a glance with Pinkydink. 

“Guess I won’t need to try your medals on anyways!” The latter commented, and the entire team burst into joyous laughter.

Credits

ML2022 Memo #3: Hurdles

The official Hurdles pictogram for Marble League 2022, designed by JMR.

Yellow Eye hadn’t understood what Red Eye meant by “keeping an eye out” until they were past the fourth hurdle and glanced to their left.

“Pinky Panther had been trailing until then. They didn’t relent, and I couldn’t keep up. I didn’t know what to do,” continued Yellow Eye. “But I knew what they would do – win the event.”

We watched from the sideline as Pinky Panther received their gold and turned to face their fans.

“PINKY! POWER! PINKY! POWER!” They chanted.

As Greg Woods announced the current overall standings, Mallard approached us with their silver. “What an interesting start to our hosting experience,” they noted, chuckling. “It’s not going as we expected, but I think it’s more fun that way.”

Mallard looked towards their locker room, sighing. “No one wanted to start the way we did. But we can only improve, and if there’s anything we can learn from the current leaders – there’s always hope.”

Noticing Sheet approaching, Mallard shied away.

“AW YEAH! THE GLACIERS GLIDE TO BRONZE!” yelled Sheet, embracing Iceberg on their way to our crew.

“I knew someone on our team would be able to do this event justice,” asserted Iceberg. “Maybe you can teach me some tricks?”

Sheet beamed. “You bet.”

We photographed Sheet with their bronze and with Swax, who they motioned to join them.

“Look at us! Just a couple of reserves who came in clutch for our teams,” Sheet told Swax.

“We’re cool like that,” Swax replied, winking through their sunglasses.

Nudging each other, the two turned to watch Pinky Panther do the same to Pinkydink, their medal falling loosely to the ground as a result. Laughing, Pinky Panther picked up the medal and extended it to Pinkydink, who smiled as they declined to try it on.

Credits

ML2022 Memo #2: Balancing

The official Balancing pictogram for Marble League 2022, designed by JMR.

“LOOK AT TEAM GALACTIC!” we heard fans shouting in The Pond as Team Galactic took the lead in Balancing to win their second consecutive gold in ML2022.

“We are starstruck right now,” said Starry, crying tears of joy.

“You might say we’re over the moon!” Cosmo added, smirking.

The Pinkies were similarly overjoyed to earn silver medals, following a terrible Balancing performance back in ML2019. “We got a 130. Can you believe that?” asked Pinky Winky, to Rosa’s laughter.

“We’re third overall. The Pinkies. Can you believe that?” Rosa responded. “Never in my wildest dreams as our captain did I think that would happen.”

Pinky Toe smiled warmly, rolling down from the podium and saluting Red Eye, who nodded in approval.

With bronze draped over their uniform, Red Eye broke from the rest of their team for their interview. “This event is one of our strengths, so it’s a welcome surprise to be bested by 2 teams that pushed to give their all.

I wonder what’s next for them.”

“What do you mean, Red?” questioned Yellow Eye, who had scored the team’s sole 130 during their heat.

“Well, what team starts with 2 golds and gives up? It’s not something we’ve seen in our career.”

Yellow Eye shrugged. “Should we resign ourselves to that?”

“No. It should motivate us to work harder. But for now…we should celebrate…” answered Red Eye, smiling slightly.

They watched as Pinky Panther leapt from the other side of the podium, modeling their Hurdles technique.

“…and keep an eye out, as always.”

Credits

ML2022 Memo #1: Climbing

The official Climbing pictogram for Marble League 2022, designed by JMR.

As the torch was lit at The Pond, ML2022 began with Event 1: Climbing. A duo event, its gold medalists were siblings Pulsar and Quasar, representing Team Galactic for their first gold since Starry’s Sand Rally 2017 win.

“I’m nervous competing alone,” admitted Quasar, “so to earn my first medal with Pulsar means more than you could imagine. It’s an honor.” 

Pulsar was beaming as they awarded their sibling with their gold medal. “We weren’t sure this day would ever come.”

Silver medallists Disarray and Snarl had also earned their first individual ML podiums. We found Disarray to the side as Snarl engaged in a dance routine with Coach Harmony.

“We didn’t even win. But I can see why they’re happy,” whispered Disarray.

Chuckling at Snarl, who glared at Disarray from a few centimeters away, was Hive, with Honey and their bronzes in tow. “Maybe this roster update’s working out,” remarked Hive. “Good on us!”

“Good on us for buying out your team,” Honey replied.

We watched the six medalists take a stand on the podium, trying out their best poses as Mascot Skipper approached us. Through their poise, everyone could tell that they were as excited for the rest of ML2022 as we are.

Credits

RetRollSpective – Valiant Violets

Hello, and welcome to another RetRollSpective, where we reflect on the history of marble sports teams that have competed in the tournaments of Jelle’s Marble Runs. This time, we’re going to cruise on over to the Valiant Violets, a team that blends in with the history of the Hubelino Tournament. Read on to learn how this team has uprooted the competition!

A fanmade logo for the Valiant Violets, designed by MightyCucumber.

The story of the Valiant Violets begins in an unexpected place: science. The four members of the Valiant Violets, Lantana, Madeira, Salvia, and Vivid, were all well renowned in the sphere of medicine. The group met at the Marblearth Athletics Convention in 2012 as botanists hoping to study new plants that could make a difference in medicine and recovery. What they found was much more than that. 

All four of them ran an individual panel at the convention, and, as fate would have it, they each saw one another’s presentations. According to Vivid, “Lantana came up to me after my panel and we got to talking. Eventually, we ran into Salvia and Madeira, who had apparently met earlier that day, and the rest is history!” They got along well and exchanged contact information.

By the end of the convention, the four found that they all lived in the same area of Marblearth, a southern coastal city named Viola del Marb. They got together often for research and experiments but never could have dreamed that four years later they’d be at the top of the marble sports scene. It took them about three years to develop even the slightest interest in actually participating in athletics. Their opinions changed when they were invited to work as stunt aids in a movie, a blockbuster film titled The Foresters Awaken. Vivid and Salvia had worked as stunt doubles in the past due to their knowledge of athletic safety and while doing so had met and worked with a future member of the Bluefastics named Dory. The three had remained in intermittent contact, but they would soon meet again on the scene of The Foresters Awaken in 2015. Their friend and teammate Lantana, who had always written the best papers of the four, shared scriptwriting duties with another future Bluefastic, Gonzo. The two teams became terrific friends and would hang out for screenings of their favorite movies.

The Valiant Violets hike in a dense Viola del Marb garden.
(Photo Credit: Pesky)

Back in Viola del Marb, the Violets remained hard-working scientists, committed to making advancements in their field. However, after learning of the incredible world of marble sports and how versatile it was, the Violets found themselves signing up for the local competition known as the Viola Cup. They were immediate standouts, having earned two medals in the first three events, and eventually making it seven out of eight by season’s end. With two golds, a bronze, and four silvers, they grabbed the championship with relative ease. The Violets were the newcomers, but they sure didn’t act like it. Local and regional news outlets had begun to notice the unlikely success story and were intent on getting the inside scoop on their meteoric rise. They were never brought on to a live broadcast, presumably because they refused to, but in the few articles they agreed to appear in, they claimed that their plans were to remain “…scientists first, athletes second,” and that the possibilities of them going pro were, “…very, VERY, slim.”

Their response changed, however, less than one year later when they were contacted by Jelle Bakker, who was beginning to run major professional competitions in Knikkegen, after seeing their impressive hometown performances. Jelle had plans to revive a competition of teams across Marblearth. They were looking for teams to fill spots in his competition called the Hubelino Tournament. Originally the Violets had negative opinions about the invite; they didn’t want to become famous for athletics and lose their scientific callings. However, they found out that their friends the Bluefastics had received the same invite. The two teams got to chatting about the possibility of competing together, and, after a period of consideration, the Violets finally caved and responded to the invite with a simple “Yes.” 

Not long after, the news broke that the local team of scientists was trying their hand at the professional circuit. One news segment was even entitled “The Valiant Violets.” When asked about it, Madeira remarked, “None of us cared about the naming aspect. We had never even expected to be athletes. But when we saw that in the paper we all looked at each other and just knew that it was the perfect name.”

The Hubelino Tournament Season 1 logo was colored a very botanical green to the liking of the Violets. (Design Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)

The Violets would continue to train for the upcoming Hubelino Tournament out of reach from the media. They stayed undercover as long as they could as they worked on their scientific studies and athletic ambitions. This is when they began using the pseudonyms we know by today. They answered no questions from the paparazzi and did their best to stay out of public. They were prepared to put on a show on the big screen, but they had no desire of revealing that they weren’t simply athletes, and their work stayed out of the way of their athletics for a very long time. This changed the day of their trip to the competition site. The team’s ability to compete was on shaky ground when they learned of some great news. Two of the team members had been selected to receive a Marbel Prize for their works in the scientific community! This was a huge honor that they simply could not turn down, but the two who had earned the prestigious award encouraged the remaining members to move forward with the Hubelino Tournament dream. It is still unknown which members received the prize.

“They were trying times,” said an anonymous team member, “We were so stoked for them, but on the other hand we needed two marbles to fill in fast.” After about a week of non-stop searching, the team found Rezzy and Rizzy, members of the Raspberry Racers, who agreed to join the team. They agreed to race under the nicknames of the two missing competitors and were accepted as honorary Violets. They had limited time to form chemistry, but they were determined to persevere through the competition. 

It didn’t take long for the Violets to realize that they were sorely underprepared for the competition. They were competing in a new city with a vastly different climate than they were used to. That combined with the lack of half of their team meant that they were in far deeper than they had expected. The crew did surprisingly well to open the season, finishing fourth in Funnel Spinning, just behind the Golden Wisps. The team was feeling great going into the Catwalk event, but unfortunately for them, their confidence was misplaced. An abysmal run sent them spiraling into last in the event and dropped them to sixth overall. 

The Valiant Violets’ good results in the first event were seldom matched throughout the rest of the tournament. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)

They started the Halfpipe Crash with an overwhelming victory against the early leaders, the Golden Wisps. Unfortunately, the Minty Maniacs sent them into the Third Place match with a comfortable win in the semifinals. An awful run in the bronze medal round meant that once again they just missed out on a podium. The Elimination Race followed, where the team tied with their friends, the Bluefastics, for sixth. There was a sizable gap in the lead, but the Violets remained optimistic. A fifth-place finish in the Elimination Maze kept them in sixth place, but the gold medal from Team Phoenix in the Quartet Jump combined with their continued mediocre finishes dropped them to seventh going into the Pursuit Slalom. 

After dispatching the Minty Maniacs, the Violets finally got to face their buddies. The Bluefastics took out the Golden Wisps to reach the semi-finals, and they didn’t stop there. The Violets didn’t take it easy on their companions, but in the end, they were no match for the eventual gold winners. After the event, a Violets member remarked, “I genuinely couldn’t be happier for them. They earned that medal and I want nothing more than to share the celebration.” Unfortunately for them, another bronze medal match went awry, and they were dropped to last place overall. Up next was the Swing Wave, where they got knocked out in their group and finished fifth. While only one point back of the next team, they had fallen far behind everyone else. A DNF in the Combination event didn’t help their case at all. The competition was put on hold after this for an even more grand event that Jelle had been planning, the 2017 Marble League. The team was in attendance for the spectacle and gathered some valuable information.

The Valiant Violets attend Marble League 2017 with their Hubelino peers. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)

Unfortunately, their decline in form continued into the Halfpipe Dash, where they finished last again. Entering the relay course they were bottom overall; twelve points behind Team Phoenix. However, the Valiant Violets had yet to give up hope. They had “Valiant” in their name for a reason. They rolled into the relay with something to prove, and they did just that. After winning their first-round race via a Golden Wisps DNF, they won the semifinal race by six-hundredths of a second! They had finally made the gold medal race, and they weren’t going to stop at second. The Violets faced steep competition, but they managed to beat their bottom table counterparts Team Phoenix in a nail-biting race to take their first-ever medal, and it was gold! 

“I’m so proud of the team, this victory was a long time coming!” said one member after the medal ceremony.

The Valiant Violets earn their first gold in the Relay Race. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)

The Violets would go on to score another disappointing last in Block Pushing, but bounced back once more with a silver medal in Ball Battle, making it to the final but failing to repeat the group stage win as they fell in a tiebreaker to the eventual champions, the Green Gang, to finish the season. This result was insufficient to take the team out of last place in the 2016 Hubelino Tournament.

Soon after, the Violets, alongside all other participant teams, were invited by Jelle to attempt qualification for the 2018 Marble League. But with such short notice to prepare for the winter events, Rezzy and Rizzy leaving on good terms to rejoin the Raspberry Racers, and the original team just coming back together with a new friend named Vivia joining the squad on standby, they preferred to decline the invite, aiming for a more sensible opportunity and their own improvement. The reformed group was confident that, with more time to plan and train, they would be ready for anything the competition could throw at them. 

Meanwhile, the team members turned their attention back to scientific research during the offseason, until being approached by JMR to officially announce the 2018 Hubelino Tournament. The team was ecstatic with the news and looked forward to proving that they were better than their last-place finish in 2016. They opened the season with a less-than-ideal finish in the Swing Wave, being eliminated in their group and finishing seventh. They improved in the Catwalk event, but still couldn’t do much, placing sixth and once again being eliminated in the group round. But, just when they seemed destined for another bleak season, they showed up to the Funnel Race with fire in their eyes. An impressive run sent them into the third position, securing their first medal as a unit! When asked about the performance, Lantana answered, “This feels so good. You know, to finally be all together with all we’ve been through as friends. To finally take a medal as a group. It’s special.”

Lantana’s first individual medal, in Season 2’s Funnel Race. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)

The Violets would go on to finish in the bottom half in the next four events, leaving them in last overall and officially knocking them out of medal contention. However, the Violets were determined to leave on a good note. After taking second in their group race, the Violets charged on, and in what was one of the tightest finishes the Tournament had seen, they took the bronze medal, barely missing out on silver to the Ruby Rollers. In the end, they only managed seventh with 27 points, just one position better than their previous season. After the Closing Ceremonies, Madeira was asked about the overall performance, “Well, I can’t say it’s exactly what we’d hoped for,” they replied, “but it is an improvement, and that’s what we want.”

Madiera’s loss in a tight photo-finish led them to finish the Big Tower with a bronze. (Photo Credit: Jelle’s Marble Runs)

They remained hopeful that they could put together more strong performances in the future, but their hopes were derailed by the news that the Hubelino Tournament would not be returning. Without a championship to play for in the foreseeable future, the Valiant Violets considered pursuing a spot in the Marble League but, in the end, decided against the move. 

The team would be absent from sports until late 2020 when they took part in a friendly tournament that brought back together all former Hubelino teams, the Herbotamia Reunion. Although results from the Reunion, realized behind closed doors, are unknown, the team’s presence sparked rumors of a comeback to official competition, all of which were denied at the time. “It’s all just for having fun with our friends”, Salvia, on behalf of the squad, was quick to clear up. 

After that special occasion, that was it, or so they believed at the time. Come April 2021, the Violets received a message, sent directly from the Minty Maniacs and written by Minty Flav. The Herbotamia Invitational represented a new era of marble sports in the region, and also brought to the table a grand prize for the top two teams, which would be revealed only at the closing ceremony. There was hesitation among the five, who felt that taking the spot signaled a return that was never on their horizon. However, the letter mentioned that a growing number of fans were curious to see how the Violets would fare in an official tournament. “We found it weird that Flav mentioned our ‘uncommon’ colors as an argument for our invitation. But after some discussion between ourselves, we’ve decided to join, even as a way to evaluate restarting our sports career. We considered all aspects of the offer, and we also didn’t want to let the Maniacs down, they were great, always helpful friends throughout our Hubelino time.”

In the same week, the Violets were back at Pepper Field, this time for the Invitational. The team was out to a poor start, failing to score any points in the first two events. “We were just heating up, but it’s a short one-day series, there was no time to heat up”, said Lantana, who would take the zero out of the board with a fifth in the Sprint. The top two had already fallen out of reach, but they were valiant, still looking for a strong performance, which came in Collision. In the first round, they beat Team Plasma in what was deemed as “the upset of the tournament”; in the semifinal, they were no match for the Gliding Glaciers; but they would bounce back and win the bronze medal over the rookie sensation, the Solar Flares, by the minimal advantage. Unfortunately, it all came crashing down for Salvia, who was bumped off the high-speed banking of the Minty Mania circuit. With another scoreless event, the Herbotamia Invitational ended in a similar fashion to previous experiences, with the Violets finishing 7th place overall, only above the Balls of Flame. 

The final standings of the Herbotamia Invitational. (Design Credits: Fouc, Jelle’s Marble Runs, MightyCucumber, Stynth)

After the closing ceremony, Salvia, checked and cleared by the medical team, talked about their campaign: “Not the way we’d like to end it, but I’m fine, happy to be here with the Maniacs and the surprise by Jelle, excited to see the Glaciers and the Flares in the Marble League. We couldn’t keep up with them, but, regardless, I’m proud of my team. We were here primarily to test ourselves, I think we still have the grit.” Eventually, the Violets decided to call it and not pursue the route of athletics, but have never run out of passion, looking back at their roots through sporadic appearances in the Viola Cup, and creating sustainable sports drinks, a business they have invested in since their first hiatus. They have provided multiple major teams with their product, dubbed “Vial of Violet”, including their old friends and Marble League winners, the Raspberry Racers, and fellow Hubelino Tournament team, the Minty Maniacs. 

In RetRollSpective, the Valiant Violets are a team of life changers. While they didn’t have the most stellar performances, they left their hearts on display in all of their competitions, and their impression within marble sports remains as rooted as their dedication to science. Best of luck to the Valiant Violets in the future, keep on rolling!

Credits

  • Writers: Edu G.J., Mystic
  • Editors: Smacg13, Stynth
  • Graphic Designers: Fouc, Jelle’s Marble Runs, MightyCucumber, Pim Leurs, Stynth
  • Photographers: Jelle’s Marble Runs, Pesky
  • Release: 15/09/2022