Venue now bears local youth Ringer coaches’ namesakes

CELINA-The marble yard here at Donaldson Park has been named in honor of two local men—one who established the youth marbles program here and another who is doing his best to make sure the tradition carries on for generations to come.

The City of Celina recently installed a sign designating the venue at the local park as “Coach Brian Cherry and Coach Travis Cherry Marble Yard,” as a part of their ongoing effort to recognize and promote what mayor Luke Collins has deemed “an important part of our past and present.”

“And we want to make sure it is a part of our future,” Collins said when asked why the municipality is working to recognize not only the coaches’ contributions to the sport of marbles, but also the four local National Marbles Tournament Champions.  “We want to preserve it, and we certainly want to congratulate and honor these very talented young ladies and gentlemen that have been so successful in representing Celina so well.”

The sign at the marble yard, along with one installed earlier this year at the entrance to town, also lists Clay County’s four Ringer National Champions:

• Amanda Burns (1993),

• Molly Reecer (1996),

• Logan Mayberry (2012), and

• Myles Lacy (2024).

Burns and Reecer were coached by Travis Cherry, while his nephew Brian tutored both Mayberry and Lacy to titles.

Plus, both men are responsible for mentoring the only other four National Champions hailing from the region.

The elder Cherry also coached Wesley (1992) and Nathan Thompson (1996) of Monroe County, KY, and the younger Cherry did the same for Standing Stone team members Corey Goolsby (2010) and Vincent Ruiz—who claimed his 2025 title earlier this summer in Wildwood, NJ where the national tournament is held annually.

“This all started when my uncle and them went to England,” Brian said when interviewed following Lacy’s win last year.  “They met a team from Maryland and they told Travis to get some kids involved and bring them up to Wildwood.

“So he got a team together and they went up there and won it.”

After his uncle coached the Clay County team through 2004 and won four titles along the way, the younger Cherry was handed the reins and his players have since captured four more championships.

After his uncle started it, Brian is doing his best to make sure it continues.

“I enjoy it myself and I enjoy it with the kids, and I really don’t want this sport to die,” he said.  “I want to keep it going on, because this is what Clay County is kind of famous for, and it brings attention to this county.”

In order to keep the tradition alive, Brian explained local youth need to get involved.

“Any kid from the time they are born on up, I would love to teach them this game,” he said.  “We start up each year the first of March and practice about four months until the trip (to Wildwood, NJ in June).

“All they have to do is give me a call.”

To join or for more information about the Clay County Marbles team, call Brian Cherry at 931-397-3596.

About the

tournament

The marble game played in the national tournament is called Ringer, and it is played by placing 13 marbles in the form of an “X” in a 10-foot circle with players alternating shots. The winner is the player who is first to shoot seven marbles out of the ring.

According to their website, the National Marbles Tournament was first held in 1922.

Marble shooters ages 7-14, better known as mibsters, compete for national honors, college scholarships, and numerous prizes and awards.

Participants play more than 1,200 games over the four-day tournament.

Champions selected from local tournaments held in cities and counties around the United States represent thousands of competitors, who converge here for a week of serious marble competition and fun on amusement rides and boardwalk attractions every June the week after Father’s Day.

For more information, visit www.nationalmarblestournament.org.