A pair of stalwarts on the successful Enumclaw High football team have secured their collegiate futures.
During an after-school ceremony Feb. 12, Colton Paulson and Cooper Rodarte signed letters-of-intent to attend Central Washington University and Utah State, respectively.
The Hornet seniors were integral to the success of the EHS football program the past couple of years. During the most recent season, both were first team, all-league selections as voted by coaches in the North Puget Sound League 3A.
Rodarte was honored as a linebacker and the multi-talented Paulson was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and was a first team wide receiver.
Rodarte, listed at 6 feet, 2 inches and 225 pounds, will be joining an Aggies program headed by Bronco Mendenhall. The Utah State athletic website notes that Rodarte was responsible for 100 tackles during his senior season, along with 3.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, three interceptions, six pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Rodarte will be joining a Utah State program that currently is a member of the Mountain West Conference but is a key player in a shifting collegiate landscape. Effective July 1, 2026, the Aggies will join a rebuilt Pacific 12 Conference.
Paulson will be heading to Ellensburg with an impressive resume that, most recently, included a spot on the all-state team as selected by the Washington State High School Football Coaches Association. A two-way player, he earned state accolades as a linebacker and is listed by CWU as a wide receiver.
On the EHS scene, Paulson was a four-year football letterman, played lacrosse for four years and was a member of the Hornet basketball team two years.
He caught the eye of CWU coaches while attending football camp in Ellensburg. Here’s what the Central coaches posted on the Wildcat website: “Colton was a top prospect of us early on after we got the chance to see him compete at camp. His ability to make plays on both sides of the ball shows his toughness and passion for the game.”
The Wildcats compete at the NCAA Division II level. During the 2024 season the team reached the playoffs with a No. 19 national ranking before falling in the opening round to the No. 10 Western Colorado Mountaineers.
