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University of Wyoming’s Josie Mousel Wins Two National Titles at CNFR


Josie Mousel (Right) is interviewed by ESPN after winning a CNFR championship. Photo by Jeff Bugher, PokesNews.com
Josie Mousel (Right) is interviewed by ESPN after winning a CNFR championship. Photo by Jeff Bugher, PokesNews.com

CASPER, Wyo. – University of Wyoming cowgirl Josie Mousel has dreamed of standing atop college rodeo's biggest stage since childhood.

 

Saturday night at the Ford Wyoming Center, that dream became reality.

 

In front of a sold-out crowd in the Ford Wyoming Center, Mousel won the 2026 College National Finals Rodeo national championship in goat tying and also earned the Women's All-Around national title, capping one of the most impressive performances by a Wyoming cowgirl in recent memory.

 Article Continues Below

Article Continues Below

The junior from Colman, South Dakota, entered Championship Saturday after posting runs of 5.8, 6.0 and 6.2 seconds in the opening three rounds, giving her nearly a full-second cushion over the field heading into the finals. On Saturday night, she clocked a time of 6.4 seconds, enough to win the national championship.

 

Moments after securing the championship, emotions poured out during an interview with Jeff Bugher of PokesNews.com

 

"Oh, it means everything," Mousel said. "I've worked my whole life for this. Since I was little, goat tying has been my life. I just wanted to be a goat tyer my whole life, and to win the national goat tying championship at the college level is the biggest thing you can win - and then scratch it off my list. I can't believe it."

 

What were Mousel’s emotions like leading up to her championship run?

 

"Every day since my last one, I've just been sweating. I'm sweating. My palms have been sweating nonstop," Mousel said. "I just have been nervous. I knew I was ready for this moment. I practiced, but there was so much pressure, so much pressure."

 

Josie Mousel during her championship run. Photo by Andrew Towne of the Casper Star Tribune. Photo shared with the media by the CNFR and NIRA.
Josie Mousel during her championship run. Photo by Andrew Towne of the Casper Star Tribune. Photo shared with the media by the CNFR and NIRA.

As she waited in the alley before her final run, Mousel leaned on the support system that helped her reach the pinnacle of collegiate rodeo.

 

"Jacey [Hupp], Seth [Glause] and my friend Layni Stevens, my teammate here, were all back there with me and they were helping me keep cool," Mousel said.

 

Then came the moment that would define her collegiate rodeo career.

 

"When I got in the alley, I saw that goat turn around, and I was like, oh gosh, because when they turn around, it's usually a little harder to be faster," Mousel said. "I just kept attacking, and that was my plan. Everything else was a blur."

 

After posting a 6.4-second run, Mousel immediately knew what had happened.

 

"I looked up, and I saw 6.4. I knew I won it," she said.

"The first person I saw was Faith Hoffman [Anders], the coach at Casper College. She tried to give me a high-five, and I just hugged her. I don't know why. I think I was so happy."

 

University of Wyoming head coach Seth Glause had watched Mousel prepare for this opportunity throughout her collegiate career.

 

"Yeah, Josie just took care of business tonight," Glause said. "She didn't have the best one on him, but went and made a run that she is more than capable of making."

 

Glause said Mousel's performance was the culmination of years of hard work.

 

"She's been working for this moment, working for this opportunity her whole career and for her to come in and dominate the way she did and capitalize on the moment. It's just huge," Glause said. "We're just very proud of her, very proud of our women's team."

 

Assistant coach Jacey Hupp, who coaches Wyoming's goat tyers and breakaway ropers, had one final message for Mousel before she entered the arena.

 

"Before her final run, I reminded her to lean into her strengths - using her horse's speed for her get-off and trusting her reactions and muscle memory," Hupp said. "There were definitely some elevated heart rates behind the scenes, but Josie was locked in and ready to finish the job."

 

The emotions continued after the championship was secured.

 

"After her run, we hugged, and I told her my prayers had been answered," Hupp said. "I can't remember exactly what was said after that because emotions were running high, but there was an overwhelming sense of gratitude, excitement, and disbelief. It was a special moment."

 

While the goat tying title was a lifelong dream, Mousel wasn't finished collecting hardware.

 

She also earned the Women's All-Around championship, awarded to the contestant who accumulates the most points across multiple events during the CNFR. Mousel told PokesNews.com earlier in the week that she wanted to win the all-around award.

 

The award held special meaning for Mousel, who qualified for the CNFR in both goat tying and breakaway roping.

 

"That's the best thing you can win here," Mousel said. "That was my goal."

 

"I've tried to be an all-around cowgirl my whole life," Mousel said. "I love to rope and I love to goat tie. So to win that award means so much. And there's so many other great cowgirls here to win it. It's crazy."

 

Mousel credited Wyoming coaches Seth Glause and Jacey Hupp for helping elevate her performance to a championship level.

 

"When I got to the University of Wyoming, those two elevated my game completely," Mousel said. "I used to be fairly inconsistent, and this whole year they've been in my corner."

 

She said their guidance played a major role in her success.

 

"They know exactly what I need to do, how I need to prepare, and I dedicate a lot of this to them."

 

Hupp is extremely proud of Mousel.

 

"Josie winning not one, but two individual national titles while also helping her team earn a reserve national championship was incredibly rewarding to be a part of as her coach, and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving person," Hupp said.

 

"She has an incredible work ethic and is one of the fiercest competitors I've ever been around. To see all of her hard work, dedication, and sacrifices pay off on the biggest stage in college rodeo was special."

 

Hupp added that Mousel represented the University of Wyoming with well throughout the week.

 

"Moments like this are the result of years of commitment, and I couldn't be more proud of her for the way she represented herself, her teammates, and the University of Wyoming."

 

Now, with two national championships added to her resume, Mousel has two more years of collegiate eligibility for rodeo… so you can bet that this won’t be the last time you will see her at the CNFR.

 

Mousel told PokesNews.com that she has some plans for the summer before heading back to Laramie in the fall.

 

"I'm going to the College All-Star Rodeo and just professional rodeoing in the Badlands Circuit," she said.

 

Saturday night in Casper secured her place in University of Wyoming rodeo history, in front of a sold-out crowd and on national television.

 

A national CNFR champion in goat tying.

 

A national CNFR champion all-around cowgirl.

 

It’s time to raise the banners in Laramie!


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