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CNFR Title Within Reach for University of Wyoming's Josie Mousel

Updated: 1 day ago

Josie Mousel. Photo courtesy of University of Wyoming Rodeo
Josie Mousel. Photo courtesy of University of Wyoming Rodeo

CASPER, Wyo. - University of Wyoming cowgirl Josie Mousel has put herself in a prime position to win a championship at the 2026 College National Finals Rodeo.

 

 

Mousel posted a 5.8-second run in the opening round and followed it with a 6.0-second effort in the second round. Through two go-rounds, the junior from Colman, South Dakota, sits atop the national standings and remains firmly in the hunt for a national championship.

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While most college rodeo athletes dream of just qualifying for the CNFR, Mousel came to Casper qualified in both breakaway roping and goat tying after an outstanding regular collegiate rodeo season.

 

Mousel just completed her junior year at the University of Wyoming, where she majors in agricultural communications.


Rodeo Beginnings


Originally from a ranch near Colman, South Dakota, Mousel grew up surrounded by horses. Her parents still farm and ranch, while her twin brothers compete in collegiate rodeo at South Dakota State and Lake Area Technical College resectively.

 

"We always had horses around and my cousins always rodeoed," Mousel said.

 

She began competing in rodeo at around age 8 and participated in nearly every youth rodeo event imaginable.

 

"I started goat tying, roping, barrels, and poles. I did all of the events when I was little," she said.


Over time, goat tying and breakaway roping emerged as her specialties. Not every season went smoothly for Mousel. During her junior year of high school, she suffered a significant knee injury that forced her away from goat tying for nearly a year.


Adversity Built Mousel

 

Rather than let the injury derail her rodeo career, the setback became a turning point.

 

"To this day, I still think it was one of the best things that ever happened to me," Mousel said. "It opened up a drive that I didn't have before and I really, really grinded on my roping and I really spent a lot of time focusing on that one event."

 

The injury ultimately strengthened both of her events.

 

"Once I got more confident doing that, I had to itch more than ever to start goat tying too," she said. "Then both of them just were fun for me again. I just appreciated how much I enjoyed doing it when I was sidelined for so long."


Not her First Rodeo...on the National Stage 


The national stage isn't new to Mousel. She qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo in high school, and made her first CNFR appearance in 2025.

 

Last year was both triumph and heartbreak.

 

Mousel recorded the fastest goat tying run of the entire 2025 CNFR with a 5.7-second performance before a costly mistake in the championship round knocked her out of contention for a national title.

 

"It was heartbreaking," Mousel said.


Experience Built Her Confidence for 2026 CNFR Run 


"When I looked up and saw the time, it was just like, wow, when I do my job, I am just as good, if not better than everybody else at this level," she said.

 

University of Wyoming Head Rodeo Coach Seth Glause and Assistant Coach Jacey Hupp also do a lot to help Mousel maintain the confidence needed to compete on the national stage.

 

"They honestly help me the most with my confidence," Mousel said. "They see me practice every day at practice when I'm in Laramie and know what I'm capable of."

 

"When things aren't going good, they're always there to remind me that I've put in the work and things are going to fall where they need to fall," Mousel said.


Preparation for the CNFR

 

Following the conclusion of Wyoming's spring rodeo season, Mousel returned home to South Dakota to continue preparing for the CNFR while also competing at professional rodeos.

 

"I've been in South Dakota since after the last college rodeo," she said. "I've been pro rodeoing, going to as many pro rodeos as I can, breakaway roping… those have been going fairly well."

 

Her goals entering the week extended beyond individual event championships.

 

In goat tying, Mousel hoped to contend for round wins and another national title opportunity. She also had her sights set on one of college rodeo's most prestigious honors.

 

"To top it off, I would love to win the national all-around championship," she said.

 

As the week progresses in Casper, Mousel has already taken a significant step toward achieving those goals.

 

With two very fast go-rounds in goat tying and sitting at number one in the nation, the Wyoming cowgirl remains poised.

 

Nobody makes it to the top without a support system, and Mousel tells PokesNews.com that her family is here this week.

 

"My parents and my brothers are coming out, my grandma and my aunt," Mousel said. "It'll be fun."

 

You can catch Mousel compete in the third round of goat tying at the Ford Wyoming Center on Wednesday, June 17th during the live performance at 7 PM. The short go will be on Champions Saturday at 7 PM to determine the champions in each discipline. 

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