BRIGHT FUTURE - From left: Family members Phil Bulfer, Aunt Bridgette Yule, "Grandma," Ella Bulfer, Gary Hagadorn, Margaret, Madeline, and Amber Bulfer were present during Ella's letter-of-intent signing in the Waseca Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Ella, a senior, signed up to play Women's Soccer for Colorado State University Pueblo.
Bulfer signs letter of intent to play in Colorado
Thu, 11/20/2025 - 2:00am
Ella Bulfer, a senior at Waseca Junior Senior High School signed her letter of intent to play Women’s Soccer for the University of Colorado Pueblo on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. Surrounded by family and friends in the high school’s Performing Arts Center she put pen to paper.
Phil Bulfer, Ella’s dad, got to do part of the introduction, “The effort that was put in never stopped, no matter how difficult it was. I’m super proud as a coach, but also as a father.” As Ella dipped her head to sign there was cheering in the crowd as her classmates watched history in action. She said to them, “I want to say thank you to my family and friends for showing up like you all did, thank you.”
Ella was offered this opportunity in late July; of nine colleges which offered her scholarships, she visited five: St. Cloud, Grand Canyon University, Central Washington, Seattle Pacific and Colorado State University Pueblo. Said Ella, “I took a couple of visits to different colleges, but when I took that first step on the Colorado campus, I just knew that’s where I wanted to be. I grew up in Waseca, but I do have a lot of family out west and I would like to be out there. They have mountains and I want to check those out.” She said she wants to give a lot of credit for the signing to her new coaches out in Pueblo, “John Constable, Head Women’s Soccer Coach and Chase Vosvick, assistant coach really put in a lot of time and were there for anything I needed, they helped me to make my decision.”
She’s been playing soccer since she could walk, but didn’t move to goalie till the third grade, “Up until then I was a forward.” She loves soccer and credits that for all the incredible people she’s met. The furthest away from Minnesota she’s played is Las Vegas.
She currently plays for three teams, Minnesota Thunder Academy, Minnesota Twin Stars and Waseca. She added, “Dad had a very big influence, he pushed me extremely hard, that’s a major reason I’m here and able to play Division 2 soccer. Also having a root community around me really helps, Waseca is home.”
The University of Colorado Pueblo was established in 1933. The mascot Ella will be playing soccer under is Thunder Wolf. Pueblo is 100 miles south of Denver; the school has around 4,000 students.