MARIETTA, Ohio — The 14th annual Pioneer Challenge will be an online event again in 2026. After 10 years of golf at Whispering Pines Golf Course in Meadville, Pennsylvania, the main organizers, Bill '79 and Carol '81 Kingzett and David Reese '79, decided to combine their event with the College's Pioneer Club Golf Outing.

Pioneer Challenge participants can directly support the Marietta College athletic program of their choice as all net proceeds from the Challenge go straight to their team's account. The 2025 Pioneer Challenge raised over $5,000 for Pioneer teams.

The coveted Golden Musket is back up for grabs. The Pioneer team that raises the most money earns the privilege of retaining the Golden Musket for the upcoming year. With the exception of volleyball's 2024 win, either football of men's soccer has won the musket each year.

At $50 per entry, supporters can directly support the Pioneer team of their choice and simultaneously be entered for a chance to win one of six great prizes. Supporters will receive six entries for $250.  

• Set of TaylorMade Qi Clubs: Qi35 Driver, Qi10 Irons 5-PW, Approach Gap Wedge (retail value $1000) 
• Cincinnati Reds Tickets (4) to a game of your choice and (4) WMOA Bucket Hats.  (Courtesy of WMOA Radio) 
• Pittsburgh Pirates Tickets (4) vs. Boston Red Sox (free T-shirt Friday) on Aug 14, plus ESPN hat and cup (Courtesy of ESPN Radio) 
• Cleveland Guardians Tickets (4)(section 548) vs New York Mets, on Aug 5 and (2) JAWS t-shirts (Courtesy of JAWS Classic Country Radio) 
• Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium Tickets (4)(good through end of March 2027) and (4) WMOA Bucket Hats (Courtesy of WMOA Radio) 
• Jet Express Tickets (4) round trip to Put In Bay from Port Clinton and (4) WMOA Bucket Hats (Courtesy of WMOA Radio)
• Golf Outing at the Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, WV. Good for a foursome of golfers. Restrictions: Expires on 8/1/26 and valid Sunday-Thursday only.

You can support one sport, multiple sports, or the Pioneer Club in general that serves the whole department. The more times you enter, the better your chances, and your team's chances of winning. Click here to enter the Pioneer Challenge.

The winners will be pulled randomly on July 17 at the 41st annual Pioneer Club Golf Outing at the Marietta Country Club. You do not need to be present to win. There is still space remaining in this year's golf outing with flights at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Click here to register for the Pioneer Club Golf Outing.

The Pioneer Challenge was created in 2013 to reconnect Marietta alumni and help raise funds for the College's athletic programs, academic scholarships, and Annual Fund. Since the inaugural Challenge in 2013, over $250,000 in donations and gifts in kind has been raised.

Fans can follow the Pioneers all season long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on X and Instagram.