UW’s Mousel Remains National Goat Tying Leader, in Contention for All-Around Title

After a pair of dominating runs in two different events, University of Wyoming women’s team member Josie Mousel is setting her sights on an even bigger prize: an all-around title at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper.

After winning the opening round of goat tying the day before, Mousel nearly did it again early Tuesday afternoon during the second slack session. As the third competitor in the final goat tying section, Mousel was nearly perfect the second time around, stopping the clock in 6 seconds, just two-tenths of a second off her 5.8-second time in the opening round. It gives her a two-round time of 11.8 seconds, enabling her to retain the overall national lead.

Her second run was the top time until one of the final competitors went 5.9, dropping the Colman, S.D., Cowgirl to a tie for second in the round.

“It was slightly slower today, but it still felt just as good to me,” Mousel says. “The goat was a little bigger, usually resulting in a slower time and a slower handling. I tried to be smoother today. I felt yesterday that I was really aggressive, and today I wanted to be smoother. I’m up again tomorrow night, and that will be my game plan again -- knock down all my steps and make no mistakes.”

Mousel was just as good in her breakaway roping run earlier in the morning, stopping the clock in a blazing 1.9 seconds, tying her with two other competitors for the fastest time of the second round -- and adding even more points to the Cowgirls’ overall team total. She suffered a no-time in the opening round of breakaway roping, or else she’d be a national contender in two separate events.

“I felt I carried my momentum from yesterday when I won the round in goat tying, and then I felt I carried it over into the breakaway today,” Mousel says. “I drew a good calf, and they actually won the first round on the same calf. I knew he was good.”

With Mousel scoring heavily in two rounds of goat tying, and now adding second-round breakaway roping points, the UW junior is now in contention for the all-around title -- something she definitely has her eye on. So far, she has scored 215 individual points in two events.

“That’s kind of my goal now: to win the all-around,” she says, but adds that she may not reach the breakaway roping short go this weekend unless she wins the third round.

“I as dang sure want to be behind the barrier and to trust my rope to try to win the round,” she says.

“Josie did a tremendous job today,” UW Coach Seth Glause says. “She scored great on a calf that didn’t give her an honest start and made a great run. She followed up with a solid run in the goats. She looks focused and is competing at a high level.”

Several other UW Cowgirls and Cowboys also competed in the final slack round, with a handful remaining in contention for championship-round bids.

Makenzi Scott, from Rock Springs, was on point in her second barrel racing run, completing the cloverleaf pattern in a sub-14-second run. Her 13.97-second clocking was the second round’s 10th fastest time. She is now at 28.35 seconds and is 14th in the average.

Scott has to wait until Thursday’s performance to move up in the average and the chance to qualify for Saturday’s championship round. Only the top 12 times and marks through three rounds during the week -- for both men’s and women’s competitors -- earn bids for Saturday’s championship round.

Layni Stevens, from St. Lawrence, S.D., was on her way to surpass her goat tying opening round time but, unfortunately, the goat managed to kick out of its tie after Stevens appeared headed to a 6.2-second run. She was 6.6 the day before, leaving just Wednesday’s performance in her CNFR run.

Olivia Lay’s tough breakaway roping week continued during her second run. The Elbert, Colo., roper was in line for the round’s top time when she roped the calf in 1.9 seconds, but she came out of the box too soon, breaking the barrier. The 10-second penalty boosted her tie-down time to 11.9 seconds. She had a no-time earlier in the week. Lay closes out her CNFR week Friday.

Greybull’s Colton Farrow remains in contention for a short-go bid, as he marked for the second time in bareback riding. He rode Logos to 74.25 points, giving him 155.75 points on two, leaving him 10th in the average. He is scheduled to compete in the third round Wednesday.

A pair of tie-down ropers had solid runs Tuesday morning.

Rio Nutter, of Rapid City, S.D., had his best time of the week, clocking 9 seconds to give him 28.4 on two runs, boosting him to 14th in the average. Teammate Treg Thorstensen, from Lantry, S.D., followed up minutes later with a 10.5-second time. He is now 32.6 after two rounds of competition and 22nd in the average. Thorstensen has his third attempt Tuesday night, and Nutter closes out the event Friday. 

Two more calf ropers also competed, with mixed results. Traven Sharon, from Ordway, Colo., posted a 13.8, giving him 28 seconds on two, while Tate Talkington, of Scottsbluff, Neb., suffered a no-time minutes later. Talkington has his third run Tuesday, and Sharon remains in contention -- sitting 13th in the average -- and has his third attempt Thursday.

Sharon did double-duty Tuesday morning. He had a 79.75-point ride on Camble County to give him two successful saddle bronc marks this week. He’s 153.75 on two heading into Thursday’s performance, giving him a good shot of reaching the championship round, and is seventh in the average.

The Cowboys had three bulldoggers competing in steer wrestling, with just one registering a confirmed time.

Jacob Wang bounced back from a no-time the day before to put up a solid 4.9-second run. The Baker, Mont., Cowboy closes out his steer wrestling appearance this week during Wednesday night’s performance. Sam Gallagher, from Brighton, Colo., recorded his second straight no-time when he missed the steer’s horns after dismounting from his horse. After a solid opening round, Thayne Kimbrough, from Ohiowa, Neb., came away empty in round two. Both he and Gallagher compete Thursday.

All three UW team roping teams suffered no-times later Tuesday afternoon.

After a 15.1-second time in the opening round, Rowdy and Roan Weil, from Kersey, Colo., were unsuccessful in round two with a no-time. Thorstensen and Nutter had their second straight no-time, as did Kash Reynolds, from Rozet, and partner Tyong Ameson, from Sheridan College.

The three teams finish three rounds of competition later in the week.

“Overall, I was happy with the second-round effort by our team. We gained some valuable round points today and look for the team to keep pressing forward and going after some wins in the rounds,” Glause says. “We have several students solid in the average and need to continue to keep the momentum heading into the third go.”