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A brand new synthetic playing surface and a new head coach hope to infuse new excitement into the Ada football program after the 2020 season came to an unprecedented and premature end.
Experienced gridiron mentor Toby Smith was hired last December amd tasked to rebuild the Bulldog progam after a three-year 4-19 slide. In the previous 12 seasons, Ada had made the post-season 11 times.
"We only have five seniors on our roster to rely on," said Smith. "We are trying to breed a culture of success.
"There is a history of success at Ada, and we want to bring that back," he said upon his hiring.
The Ada golf team split a three-team Northwest Conference match Thursday evening at the Hidden Creek Golf Course.
The Bulldogs defeated Spencerville 216-257 to earn their first league win of 2021. Bluffton beat Ada 159-216, and also whipped the Bearcats 159-257.
The Bulldog linksters ran their record to 2-9 overall and 1-6 in NWC play with the split. Bluffton improved to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in league action with the wins.
Pirate Kenny Lovett won match medalist honors with a nine-hole score of 36.
The rebuilding Ada boys golf program will be led by three experienced seniors in 2021.
Ninth-year head coach Jason Campbell welcomes back five lettermen and one newcomer to the six-man Bulldog squad this season.
Senior Andrew Rush made big strides as a newcomer in 2020 and is expected to be the top Ada player this fall.
"Andrew put in a lot of work in the off season and advanced to the number one spot," said Campbell. "He has a good all-around game and just needs to do all phases of the game in every round. He is a good ball-striker."
Optimistic second-year Ada varsity girls soccer head coach A.J. Wahlie is poised for a potential breakthrough season as 11 letter winners and nine starters return to the varsity program.
"If you shoot for the stars you will land on the moon," said Wahlie of the team's prospects this fall. "There is no reason to think we can't compete with anybody on our schedule."
The Ada girls finished 4-12 overall last season after losing to powerhouse Mansfield Christian in the sectionals. The Lady Bulldogs went 2-4-0 in Northwest Conference play last fall to finish fifth out of seven teams.
The Ada boys soccer team returns a strong group of lettermen that should form the nucleus of a solid 2021 roster.
Some promising freshmen should also team with the returnees in an attempt to improve on last season's record. The Bulldog varsity roster boasts two seniors, 11 sophomores, four freshmen and five juniors, so 15 of the 22 players on the team are underclassmen.
Nine lettermen and seven starters return from a squad that ended up 10-9 overall and 4-1-0 in the six-team Northwest Conference, good for second place.
The Allen East boys golf team won a quadrangular Northwest Conference match at the Bluffton Golf Course Monday.
AE won the event with a score of 160, 11 strokes ahead of Bluffton in second (171). Leipsic finished third (189), while Ada was fourth (222).
Mustang Zach Miller won match medalist honors with a score of 33.
Senior Dexter Woods paced Ada with a nine-hole score of 49. Senior Drew Rush carded a round of 54. Sophomore Jack Baumgartner shot 58. Junior Geddes Klingler posted a 61 to round out the Ada scorers.
Bulldog senior Kamron Wilkerson shot a 65, and freshman Wyatt Ferguson added a 99.
