The Pioneer Club

The Pioneer Club is a component of the Marietta Fund providing unrestricted dollars to the athletic department.

Donors will be recognized for their gifts through special invitations to events, email updates, two special Pioneer Club newsletters and more.

The Pioneer Club is comprised of alumni, parents, friends, faculty and staff who desire to support all of Marietta’s varsity sports—18 Sports 1 Team.

Marietta’s coaches, along with the guidance of the Director of Athletics, have developed a list of priorities that will be funded by the unrestricted dollars received through the Pioneer Club.

If you are interested in designating your gift to a specific sport, you can still do this through the Pioneer Club. When you make your gift just specify which sport you would like it to assist.

Generated philanthropic dollars are used at the discretion of the Director of Athletics to:

Provide state-of-the-art training equipment and instructional technology
Offset recruiting expenses as we personally reach out to the best and brightest high school student-athletes
Provide the opportunity to participate against strong, nationally known colleges on special regular season trips
Enhance practice, game and travel amenities to ensure Marietta College athletics is a first-class operation

For more information on the Pioneer Club or if you are interested in making a donation, email Larry Hiser at larry.hiser@marietta.edu or Debbie Lazorik at debbie.lazorik@marietta.edu. You can also call 1-800-274-4704 or visit http://www.marietta.edu/advancement

Pioneer Club News

2009 Pioneer Golf Outing to take place July 20
Register today by calling Wendy Thieman at (740) 376-4665

July 1, 2009
MARIETTA, Ohio — The 2009 Marietta College Pioneer Golf Outing will take place on Monday (July 20) morning at the Marietta Country Club. The 24th annual event, sponsored by the Comfort Inn Marietta and Dixie Sporting Goods, is the main fundraiser for Marietta College athletics.

Last year, 120 golfers covered the par-70 course for a day of golf, food and fun in order to raise money for the Pioneer Club. Thanks to the support of its sponsors, all of the proceeds will go directly into the Pioneer Club fund for the third year in a row.

>>Complete Story

Five Pioneers inducted into Marietta College Athletics Hall of Fame
Banquet highlighted successful Winter Weekend

Feb. 9, 2009
MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College celebrated a successful Winter Weekend 2009 on Feb. 6-7. Alumni basketball and volleyball games and an exciting Ohio Athletic Conference basketball doubleheader helped set the stage for the Hall of Fame Banquet, which took place inside the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center.

Doug Lessing ’84, Monte Duncan ’85, Brent Frafjord ’94, Danté Brown ’98 and Sally Friend ’98 were formally enshrined as the 26th Hall of Fame class. Plaques with their images etched in them were hung in the halls of the recreation facility, alongside the previous 129 inductees.

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Marietta to present prestigeous Way-Weigelt and Betty Cleland awards at Feb. 7 Hall of Fame Banquet
Pagenhardt to receive Bettly Cleland and Piconke to get Way-Weigelt

Jan. 30, 2009
MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College will present the athletics department's most prestigious awards to a pair of 2008 graduates at the Hall of Fame Banquet on Feb. 7. The ceremony will coincide with the induction of the 26th Hall of Fame Class. Former baseball standout Tony Piconke will receive the Way-Weigelt Award and former basketball star Justine Pagenhardt will be awarded the Betty Cleland Award.

This year's Hall of Fame inductees are men’s soccer standout Doug Lessing ’84, All-American shortstop Monte Duncan ’85, two-time All-American pitcher Brent Frafjord ’94, two-time All-American running back Danté Brown ’98 and two-time All-Region pitcher Sally Friend ’98.

>>Complete Story

Marietta College announces 26th Athletics Hall of Fame class
Five Pioneers to be inducted on Feb. 7, 2009

Dec. 10, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — Five former Pioneer athletes representing four sports from the 1980s and 1990s will be inducted into the Marietta College Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 26th class on Feb. 7.

The ceremony will once again highlight the Winter Weekend festivities.

This year's inductees are men’s soccer standout Doug Lessing ’84, All-American shortstop Monte Duncan ’85, two-time All-American pitcher Brent Frafjord ’94, two-time All-American running back Danté Brown ’98 and two-time All-Region pitcher Sally Friend ’98.

>>Complete Story

30 teams and dozens of sponsorships make 2008 Pioneer Golf Outing a success
Bradley, Crosby and Wharffs shoot 14-under par to claim top prize in Pioneer Club fundraiser

July 21, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — After a four-year hiatus, the Pioneer Golf Outing returned to the Marietta Country Club Monday (July 21) for the 23rd annual event. 120 golfers blanketed the par-70 course for a day of golf, food and fun in order to raise money for the Pioneer Club.

Thanks to the Marietta Country Club, sponsors Dixie Sporting Goods, the Comfort Inn Marietta and the River City Tavern and Grill, as well as the various hole sponsors, all of the proceeds will go directly into the Pioneer Club fund for the second straight year.

>>Complete Story

Spots remain for July 21 Pioneer Golf Outing
Sign up today to secure your team's entry in four-person, 18-hole scramble at Marietta Country Club

July 11, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — The 2008 Marietta College Pioneer Golf Outing will take place on Monday (July 21) morning at the Marietta Country Club. The 23rd annual event is the main fundraiser for Marietta College athletics.

The 18-hole, four-person scramble format is scheduled to begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. A $100 per golfer entry fee ($400 per foursome) includes 18 holes of golf, cart, golf favor, refreshments and dinner. Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the event. You may enter as a team or an individual. Contact Wendy Thieman at (740) 376-4665 for more details.

>>Download Brochure (.pdf)

Paul Spear to receive Distinguished Service Award at Saturday's Hall of Fame Banquet
Call (740) 376-4665 to reserve your tickets today

Feb. 11, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — On Saturday (Feb. 16) evening, Paul “Doc” Spear will become the 15th recipient since 1984 to ever receive the Distinguished Service Award from the Marietta College Athletics Hall of Fame. The ceremony will coincide with the induction of the 25th Hall of Fame Class.

This year's inductees include national-qualifying distance runner Roderick MacLeod '72, All-American baseball standout and Way-Weigelt award winner David Thomas '84, All-American defensive tackle Jason Olivea '96, Betty Cleland award winner Lee Ann Shoemaker '97 and two-time National Player of the Year and Way-Weigelt award winner Joseph Thomas '97. [Hall of Fame Biographies]

>>Complete Story

Eschbaugh and Quintana to receive awards at Saturday's Hall of Fame Banquet
Quintana named 2007 Betty Cleland Award winner, while Eschbaugh honored with 2007 Way-Weigelt Award

Feb. 11, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — The Betty Cleland and Way-Weigelt awards are the most honored distinctions that the Marietta College Athletics Department presents each year. The 2007 recipients were two successful Marietta College Athletes who are certainly deserving of these awards. Softball pitching star Kristen Quintana was this past year’s Betty Cleland Award winner and the honor of the Way-Weigelt Award went to Pioneer baseball standout Ryan Eschbaugh. Both Quintana and Eschbaugh will be on hand Saturday (Feb. 16) to be recognized during the Hall of Fame banquet. The ceremony will coincide with the induction of the 25th Hall of Fame Class.

>>Complete Story

Marietta College's Athletic Hall of Fame announces 25th induction class

Dec. 7, 2007
MARIETTA, Ohio — February 16, 2008, will mark the induction of five former Pioneer standouts into the 25th class of the Marietta College Athletics Hall of Fame. The ceremony will once again highlight the Winter Weekend festivities.

The Hall of Fame Banquet to be held Saturday evening in the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center caps off a busy weekend at Marietta College, that includes a collegiate track & field meet as well as a men's and women's varsity basketball game, while also featuring a men's and women's basketball and volleyball alumni games.

>>Complete Story

Five inducted into Marietta College Athletics Hall of Fame

Feb. 10, 2007
MARIETTA, Ohio — February 10, 2007, marked the induction of five former Pioneer standouts into the 24th class of the Marietta College Athletics Hall of Fame. The ceremony highlighted the annual Winter Weekend festivities.

This year's inductees included basketball standout Robert Young '51, women's basketball and field hockey pioneer Tina Thomas '78, three-time All-Region baseball star and long time assistant coach Bill Mosca '78 and Way-Weigelt award winners Bob Eddy '94 and Curt Weikart '96.

Marietta College partners with Stretch Internet to boost its online streaming capabilities
Collaboration will debut Saturday when Pioneer football travels to Emory, Va., for season opener against Emory & Henry at 1 p.m.

Aug. 30, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio – Marietta College officials are pleased to announce they have entered into a partnership with Stretch Internet (www.stretchinternet.com) to provide free live audio of College events over the Internet during the 2006-07 academic year.

As a bonus, fans of Pioneer athletics also have the ability to subscribe for free to a one-of-a-kind messaging service that allows them to receive game results and information on their cell phones and email.

Marietta's student radio station, WMRT, will simulcast all 10 football games this fall over the Internet and on the radio.