FEATURE: A Contributor Since Day One, Senior Ella Wolf Remains Key Member Of Strong Bulldog Soccer Defense

By Sandy Gholston

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Ella Wolf has been a key contributor for Ferris State's defense since day one when she joined the team as a first-year Bulldog on the soccer pitch.

The senior from Fishers, Indiana who prepped at Hamilton Southeastern High School, stands as a proud member of a program she has been a part of that reached new heights during the last four seasons—including its 14-6-5 finish in 2022, winning the NCAA Division II Midwest Region Championship, advancing to the Elite Eight, and ultimately to the Final Four for the first time in program history.

Among the then-freshman's individual highlights, Wolf helped lift the Bulldogs to the regional championship as she scored the decisive penalty kick to defeat the defending national champion, Grand Valley State, on a frigid November 2022 day in Bemidji, Minnesota.

That memory and more are part of a journey that has been special for Wolf, who appreciates the groups she has had surround her during the last four soccer seasons.

"It has been great. Coach (Greg Henson) has been great at building off our strengths and minimizing our weaknesses. This year, we've been fortunate to add some new players on our back line," said Wolf, who was her high school team's defensive MVP in 2018, before committing to Ferris State for her college soccer career. "Lauren McCaul, as a freshman this year, has been amazing. We knew it was going to be important for us to do a good job of absorbing her into our group."

Now one of the team's veteran players, Wolf is proud knowing that the hard work has paid off continuing to build a program that has reached great heights during the last four seasons of her career.

Competing regularly against top teams in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, the Midwest region and nationally, has been akin to iron sharpening iron for this Ferris State program that on Sunday, Nov. 2, earned a big 2-0 win over Saginaw Valley State to clinch one of the top four spots and a home contest in the quarterfinals of the GLIAC Tournament.

Wolf has been the beneficiary of the challenges she has faced, and opportunities have been earned that collectively have helped her grow as a student-athlete.

"For me, a big part of what has changed over the last four years has been confidence," Wolf said. "Greg talks a lot about how during our freshman year, he was just trying to get me and Bella (Vallone) on the field and not have us break down from anxiety or whatever else. So, I think building that confidence going forward from there has been a big part of my growth as a player."

As a first-year Bulldog, Wolf started 25 games and had three assists. During her sophomore season, she started all 20 Ferris State games before making 17 appearances as a junior, all starts. This fall, as a senior, the trend continues as one of the ironwomen of the Bulldog lineup as Wolf has started all 16 Ferris State games in 2025.

As a group, these Bulldog defenders take are prideful with their play on the pitch.

"It's so much fun to score, and it's even more fun as a backline since we don't get to score as much," Wolf said. "Getting early goals is so important. They can help us get even more momentum as a team. It lifts us. That allows us to help more, offensively and defensively."

As she nears the end of her Bulldog career, Wolf had a special moment during the 2-2 home tie with Northern Michigan. Wolf scored her first career goal at 41:19 in the first half. She was one of five Bulldogs to play all 90 minutes of the contest.

In Wolf's career, she has a goal and three assists, but the efforts of defenders are not always measured by goals and assists.

In the classroom, Wolf is a Pre-Optometry major who will attend the Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State beginning in Fall 2026.

"So, I'll still be around," she smiled. "As for the future, I am looking forward to being an optometrist. I am happy that soccer has helped me so much along the way."

Wolf, who excels in the classroom as she prepares for the rigor of training to become an optometrist, was Academic All-State in high school and is a two-time GLIAC Academic Excellence honoree.

The Bulldogs wrap up the regular season with a two-game homestand, taking on Wisconsin-Parkside on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m. and Roosevelt on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m.

Ferris State will host a GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal round game on Tuesday, Nov. 11 against an opponent that is still to be determined.