June 15, 2026 -- University of Wyoming Cowgirl Josie Mousel is proving why she was the national goat tying leader for more than half of the regular season. Now, when it counts the most, she has topped the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) standings.

Coming off a no-time during last year's CNFR in Casper, the Colman, S.D., junior stopped the clock in a blazing 5.7 seconds to take the national lead after the completion of round one during Monday's slack session.

Mousel, who came into collegiate rodeo's culminating event with the fifth most individual goat tying points accumulated during the regular season, wants to reach her second straight CNFR championship round -- and, more importantly, come away as a national contender. With two rounds remaining to get into Saturday's championship round -- where, a year ago, her goat kicked out of its tie to leave her out of the top 10 -- Mousel knows she just has to focus on the next goat.

"One miss on a tie can take you out of the average," she says. "I need to keep my head down, keep focused on all the goats I have left – and, if I make no mistakes, the cards will land in my favor."

Her impressive opening round began when her horse ran straight and fast down the arena floor; Mousel then had a clean dismount and "ran as fast as I could on my feet" toward the goat. She drew a smaller animal, which helped power her by taking the goat down cleanly and quicker for a successful tie.

"All I could think at that point is to make sure I get a good running start to the goat and, after that, it's all a blur. I can't think of a whole lot at that point," she says.

Her run was similar to last season, when she won the goat tying's third round. She hopes to regain her status as the national leader for the rest of the week. Mousel competed earlier in the morning in breakaway roping but missed her calf.

Fourteen UW team members also competed Monday during the first of two straight days of slack. It was a tough go for most of the Cowboys and Cowgirls.

Two of Mousel's Cowgirl teammates saw their first CNFR action earlier in the day. Layni Stevens, of St. Lawrence, S.D., managed a 6.6-second time in goat tying that put her 11th after the first

round. Rock Springs' Mackenzi Scott stopped the clock in 14.38 seconds in barrel racing, putting her 25th in the average.

The Cowboys really struggled to find their footing throughout the day, especially in the timed events.

In steer wrestling, Thayne Kimbrough, from Ohiowa, Neb., had the top individual performance for the Pokes, placing 11th overall based on his 5.1-second opening steer wrestling run. Teammates Jacob Wang, of Baker, Mont., and Sam Gallagher, of Brighton, Colo., both recorded no-times on their runs.

Tate Talkington, from Scottsbluff, Neb., and Traven Sharon, of Ordway, Colo., turned in the top tie-down roping performances for the Cowboys. Talkington posted a time of 11.9 seconds, while Sharon roped his calf in 14.02, leaving them 14th and 19th, respectively, after the opening round.

Sitting in the top 30 in the same event are teammates Rio Nutter, of Rapid City, S.D., and Treg Thorstensen, of Lantry, S.D., who were both hit with 10-second penalties for breaking the barrier coming out of the box too early. Nutter's time was 19.4, and Thorstensen's was 22.1.

Only one of three UW team roping teams had a successful run Monday.

The Weil brothers, Rowdy and Roan, both had good ropes, recording a 15.1-second time. The duo of Nutter and Thorstensen had no-time, as did Kash Reynolds, from Rozet, and partner Tyon Arneson, representing Sheridan College.

And Aidan Sawyer, of Sheridan, was bucked off his bull for the second straight day.

The first of four nightly performances is Tuesday evening, with the top 12 individual marks and times in both the men's and women's events earning championship-round bids Saturday night.

Sunday Recap

Colton Farrow's belief in himself is paying off at the right time of the year for the University of Wyoming Cowboy.

The Greybull graduate student rode Freaky Deaky to 81.5 points Sunday to open his final turn at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) at Casper's Ford Wyoming Center. His opening bareback bronc riding mark put him in a two-way tie for fourth in the nation after the first full round of competition.

Farrow's ride during the fan favorite "Broncs, Bulls and Breakaway" competition -- featuring all roughstock riders and women's breakaway ropers -- set the tone for what he hopes is a successful week.

Farrow says he drew a pretty stocky horse that came out and jumped and kicked out every time.

"He was a picture-perfect horse, really," says Farrow, who matched his high point total on a single ride this season.

Farrow says he entered the CNFR with plenty of confidence and belief in himself after not qualifying for the championship round last summer.

"Eighty-one points is a good start to the week. I need to keep piling up the points the rest of the week to win," he says. "My success is knowing that I'm working hard."

Farrow did a great job in the opening round, UW Coach Seth Glause says.

"He had a good horse and made a great ride. He just needs to keep it rolling this week," Glause says.

Farrow next competes in Tuesday morning's slack round.

Farrow was among five UW team members competing on the opening day of CNFR action.

Teammate Traven Sharon, of Ordway, Colo., later in the evening, followed up with a 74-point saddle bronc ride to register points in the first of his three guaranteed rides this week. He is sitting 13th after round one of competition.

"Traven finishes strong. He had a great spur out and just set his rein down. He finished aggressive," Glause says. "He has a good horse for his second one. He will come back ready to ride on his next two."

Sharon competes again during Tuesday's slack round and will open his second event, tie-down roping, in Monday and Tuesday's slack.

The third UW Cowboy to compete during Sunday's performance was Sheridan bull rider Aidan Sawyer, who was unsuccessful on his first attempt after being thrown early in the ride. He competes again during Monday's slack.

Two UW Cowgirls also were up in the breakaway portion of Sunday's matinee performance, but both suffered tough opening rounds.

Josie Mousel, of Colman, S.D., and Olivia Lay, of Elbert, Colo., both came up short during the CNFR's "Broncs, Bulls and Breakaway" opening event of the weeklong CNFR competition.

"Olivia and Josie came up with empty loops in their first round, but there is a lot of rodeo left and points to capture," UW Assistant Coach Jacey Hupp says. "They are in good spirits and will return with a vengeance in round two."

Lay has her second breakaway roping run during Monday's slack session, and Mousel is up again during Tuesday's final slack round.

Sixteen UW qualifiers are all scheduled to compete in the two slack rounds over the next couple of days, and all have the opportunity to be under the arena's lights for an evening performance beginning Tuesday evening and stretching into Friday, June 19.

The top 12 men's and women's qualifiers from three complete rounds of competition move onto Saturday's championship round. All night performances begin at 7 p.m. at the Ford Wyoming Center.