Episode 360: Nancy Marsh, Gem City Pinball
Don't let fear or anxiety prevent you from playing pinball in a league...it might be the remedy you need to tackle your fears. That's the case for Nancy, who tells us about playing and growing the...
Highlights
- Gem City Pinball league reached full capacity with 44 players and a 20-person waitlist
- Gem City Pinball started as a non-IFPA fun league in 2021 and converted tournaments to IFPA-endorsed while keeping the main league independent
- Nancy placed fifth overall at a women's tournament in Cincinnati with approximately 40 competitors
- Ohio has multiple thriving pinball communities including Cleveland (Cleapin), Columbus (Level One Arcade), Cincinnati (Pinson Addy), and Dayton (Gem City)
- Gem City Pinball partnered with a Columbus group to run a women's tournament series alternating locations monthly
Notable quotes
“We've actually become more like a family than a community. Everybody's got everybody's back.”
“If you know how to flip, you're ready to go. If you know how to plunge a ball, you're ready to go. The rest is all gradual learning.”
“One of the things that I say to a lot of people that aren't sure exactly what they're doing when it comes to the machine is go for the flashing lights. If it lit up that means you need to hit it.”
“If pinball is not fun, why are we doing this?”
“You just go do it. Always, just go do it.”
Entities
- Canal Street Arcade & Deli· organization
- Cleapin· organization
- Gem City Pinball· organization
- IFPA (International Flipper Pinball Association)· organization
- PAPA (Professional and Amateur Pinball Association)· organization
- Pinson Addy / Pinsonati· organization
- Carlos de la Cerda· person
- Chad Marsh· person
- Elizabeth Gieske· person
- Holly, Jen, Bree, Anna· person
- Jeff Teolis· person
- Nancy Marsh· person
- Rob (Canal Street Arcade)· person
- Tony Becker· person
More from Pinball Profile
→ All content from Pinball Profile
Episode 439: Emily Reilhan
Talk about a banner year…and it’s only June! Emily has won everything under the sun so far in 2026 as you’ll hear, including the Women’s World Championship, the WNACS, the first ever Women’s...
Episode 438: David Morris of Phantom Amusement
If you’re ever in Manitoba, Canada, check out their growing pinball scene. David talks about the birth of the creating a pinball environment with the Manitoba Pinball League, the MPC, his arcade...
Episode 437: The Pinball Capital’s Francis Wisniewski
Good luck this weekend with the Grand Opening, including a Roger Sharpe appearance, a signed Bank Shot machine giveaway and more! Find out about this huge arcade in Stone Park, Illinois, and hear how...