MARIETTA, Ohio — Former Marietta College football All-American Chance Knight earned yet another accolade as he will be presented with the 2026 Way-Weigelt Award this Saturday (Feb. 14) evening at the 43rd annual Hall of Fame Banquet. The award is presented annually to a senior male who best demonstrates the qualities of scholarship, leadership, character and sportsmanship in addition to participation in athletics.

A four-year letter winner and two-year captain for the football program, Knight finished his career in the Navy Blue and White as one of the most decorated players in program history, being named a two-time winner of Ohio Athletic Conference Paul Hoernemann Defensive Lineman of the Year award.  Knight was also named D3football.com All-American twice as well as being named Walter Camp All-American First Team and American Football Coaches Association All-American first team
 
Knight really began to make an impact in his second year as he collected 41 tackles and 3.5 sacks.  He then established himself as one of the top defensive linemen in the Ohio Athletic Conference earning first team All-OAC status for the next three years.  The Pioneers were relieved to see Knight return for a fifth year as he put together one of the best performances in the history of the program.  Knight finished the season with 58 tackles and led the OAC with 12.5 sacks and 20 tackles for a loss.

Knight was also an excellent student athlete and representative of Marietta College Athletics.  He was named Academic All-OAC four times and was named to the College Sport Communicators Academic All-American first Team in his final season.

The award memorializes James W. Way '55 and Henry C. Weigelt '57, two former Marietta College athletes who tragically lost their lives in an automobile accident. The award consists of the presentation of a plaque and a nameplate bearing the athlete's name placed in the lobby of Ban Johnson Arena.

Fans can follow all of the Pioneer teams all year long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.