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9th annual Made in Ada Wilson Football Festival
Saturday, August 23
5:00-11:00 p.m.
10 p.m. Wilson Ball Drop
Ada Depot Park
Main St. at Central Ave.
Coordinated by the
Ada Area Chamber of Commerce
By Paula Pyzik Scott
Ada is throwing a big party in celebration of football--and especially footballs and football teams that are "Made in Ada." The 9th annual Made in Ada Wilson Football Festival on the evening of Saturday, August 23 will have all of the music, food and games that are essential to a great party, as well as plenty of Bulldog, Polar Bear and NFL spirit.
Ada is the home of the Wilson Football factory which supplies balls for all levels of play up to and including the NFL and the Super Bowl. For some pre-festival activitiy, the Wilson Football Factory store will be open from noon-4:00 p.m. You can explore the new facility's lobby, which is filled with memorabilia and a Wilson gift store at 517 E. Highland Ave, Ada, Ohio.
ADA __The Ada High School varsity volleyball team returns considerable experienced talent and two promising freshmen for veteran head coach Kyleigh Woodruff for fall 2025.
The 2024 Bulldog spikers posted an 11-12 overall record in a building year. Ada went 3-7 in its first BVC campaign to finish eighth in the tough 11-team league, then lost a tough sectional match to county rival Hardin Northern.
Plays, musicals, orchestra, band, and dance performances detailed in season brochure
AUG 16 MEDIA RELEASE__The Freed Center for the Performing Arts 2025-2026 season opens during ONU’s homecoming weekend with the small, intimate, contemporary musical The Mad Ones by Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk.
The four-person cast tells the story of 18-year-old Sam who isn’t sure that Ivy League school is the right choice anyone when her path takes a sharp and painful turn. The show follows Sam’s journey through grief and her decision to pursue her own future.
Seven-year playoff drought ended in ‘24; key opener vs. rival Rams on Friday
By Cort Reynolds
ADA – The Ada High School football debut in the Blanchard Valley Conference was a success in fall 2024, with the Bulldogs making it to the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and posting eight wins while finishing a strong third in the league.
TIFFIN – The Ada High School boys soccer team kicked off its 2025 season with a convincing 6-1 win at Tiffin Columbian on Saturday, August 16.
The Bulldogs raced to a 5-0 halftime bulge and cruised to victory.
“We really shared the ball well,” said Ada head coach Aaron Acheson. “We had five assists on six goals, and it is great to see five different players on the scoresheet.
“Our defenders were key in creating attacking opportunities, quickly transitioning the ball and setting up our midfield and forwards for better chances,” he continued.
TIFFIN – The Ada High School girls soccer team kicked off its 2025 season with a 3-1 win at Tiffin Columbian on Saturday evening, August 16.
“We dominated the game and out-shot them 28-4,” said fourth-year Ada head coach Doug Dewese. “We had one mental lapse at the start of the second half that cost us a goal and tied it 1-1.”
Ada led 1-0 at the half as senior Kenley Poling tallied the season’s first goal via an assist from freshman Maycie Dewese about 10 minutes before intermission.
The Tornadoes then tied it briefly very early in the second half.
Season opener Aug. 16 at Tiffin Columbian; host Van Buren in league and home opener, September 4
By Cort Reynolds
The Ada High School boys soccer team put together a great turnaround season in 2024 by winning 14 games, the most in almost two decades for a Bulldog soccer squad.
Now the task for 2025 and beyond is to carry that momentum forward.
Along with returning talent, Bulldog alumnus Aaron Acheson engineered much of the season revival in his first year as head coach with high energy, positivity and soccer knowledge.
KENTON__The Ada High School golf team decisively defeated county rival Hardin Northern in a dual match at the Veterans Memorial Park Golf Course in Kenton on Friday, August 15.
The Bulldogs defeated the Polar Bears, 202-217. Ada evened its dual match record at 1-1 with the win.
“We continue to improve each match and while we’re still not scoring to our potential, we are starting to at least score closer to our average,” said head coach Tod Schmidt.
AUG 14 MEDIA RELEASE__ The United Way of Hardin County launched its 2025/2026 campaign with the annual Day of Caring on August 15, bringing together 40 volunteers to make a meaningful impact at six local work sites across the county.
