UW Rodeo Member Leads All-Around
In the high-stakes world of collegiate rodeo, few athletes have carved a path as greatly as Josie Mousel. The University of Wyoming Cowgirl from eastern South Dakota has found her time in the spotlight this fall, capturing several all-around titles and propelling the UW women’s rodeo team to the top of both regional and national standings.
Through grit, precision, and a relentless work ethic, Mousel has become the face of the Cowgirl team that is rewriting the Central Rocky Mountain Region (CRMR) leaderboard. With three consecutive team victories this fall and a commanding 450 point lead over their nearest regional rival, the UW Cowgirls are not just winning; they’re dominating.
At the center of that dominance is Mousel, whose performances in goat tying and breakaway roping have been nothing short of impressive. At the Sheridan College Rodeo in late September, she won both rounds of goat tying, securing the average and 180 points. In breakaway roping, she achieved a near perfect 175 points, ending the weekend by tallying 355 points overall.
By the end of the final rodeo of the fall season, Mousel had swept the goat tying event and secured her fourth consecutive win in the event. “ I was so in the zone and so focused that there was nothing going to bother me,” said Mousel.
“I knew that I had my process locked in to where I was going to win first place if I just did my job,” said Mousel after the final performance in Cheyenne.
Mousel’s outstanding season is the product of years of dedication to the sport of rodeo. A junior majoring in agricultural communications, she’s been an important member of the UW rodeo program since her freshman year, steadily climbing the ranks with each season. Known for her calm attitude and competitive edge, Mousel has become a mentor to younger teammates and a leader in the arena.
Many know she is not a newcomer to the rodeo world. Doing everything she could to gain experience, she participated in junior and high school rodeo associations growing up. The hard work does not just begin there, though. Mousel comes from a ranch operation and a farming background.
Mousel’s rise is not simply on a regional level. On the national stage, she’s helped vault the University of Wyoming women’s team to the number one spot in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) standings. As of mid-October, UW leads the women’s national rankings with 1,875 points, ahead of Central Arizona College (1,457) and the College of Southern Idaho (1,430), according to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.
Mousel is gaining recognition for her all-around skills, but her teammates are also standing out. Landry Haugen took first place in barrel racing at Cheyenne and finished fifth in goat tying. Breanna Herring earned second place in the girls’ breakaway event. Together, their performances highlight the leadership and determination of this year’s Cowgirl team.
If Mousel continues to show the same determination and consistency, she could be a strong contender for the NIRA Women’s All-Around title in June. The national leaderboard for individual all-around standings is not final yet, but her recent wins and success in multiple events make her one of the top athletes in the country.
“I enjoy seeing myself make improvements and success with each rodeo and to be able to be so consistent this fall, and to come back to practice and work so hard, I really am trying to master how I am doing everything,” said Mousel.
For now, Mousel remains focused on the fundamentals, which for her is clean runs, sharp dismounts, and the kind of mentality that separates champions from contenders. She is also taking this break between the fall and spring seasons to work hard in practices to stay consistent.
“’I am gonna get after it. I have some big ropings and events I’m going to go to this winter. So, I’m hoping just to keep practicing here at the school with the team and staying sharp,” said Mousel.
With that mindset and a saddlebag full of points, Josie Mousel is riding high and taking the Cowgirls along with her.
Want to follow Josie and the UW Rodeo Team as they take on the spring season? Check out the UW athletics page for their upcoming schedule.
