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, Mousel won the 2026 College National Finals Rodeo national championship in goat tying and also earned the Women's All-Around n

University of Wyoming head rodeo coach Seth Glause. Photo courtesy of UW Rodeo. CASPER, Wyo. – University of Wyoming head rodeo coach Seth Glause knows exactly what his student-athletes are feeling when they are competing in the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR). He's been there himself. As a student-athlete, Glause qualified for the CNFR three times and eventually advanced to the National Finals Rodeo as a professional. He returned to Casper with a Wyoming team that

UW CNFR Competitor. Photo by Jeff Bugher, PokesNews.com This is the moment for which three University of Wyoming rodeo team members have been practicing and competing since the start of the fall season last September: the championship round of the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper Saturday night. The trio -- Josie Mousel, Colton Farrow and Traven Sharon -- enter the championship round with shots of winning individual titles, along with the UW women’s team. The Co

Colton Farrow. Photo courtesy of UW Rodeo CASPER, Wyo. - University of Wyoming bareback rider Colton Farrow has put himself in a position for the best finish of his collegiate career heading into Championship Saturday at the 2026 College National Finals Rodeo. The graduate student from Greybull enters the short go fourth in the nation after posting rides of 81.5, 74.25 and 83.75 points through three rounds for a total of 239.5 points. Farrow’s strong showing comes during

Scott Sterrett (Left) works in the production during the CNFR. Courtesy Photo CASPER, Wyo. - As thousands of rodeo fans across the country tune in to watch the College National Finals Rodeo each night on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, most never think about the people working behind the scenes to make the broadcast happen. For nearly three decades, Scott Sterrett, owner of Wild Bunch Video Productions has been one of those people behind the scenes. On the day of Championship Sat

University of Wyoming saddle bronc rider Traven Sharon, of Ordway, Colo., marked 82 points during Thursday’s College National Finals Rodeo performance -- the second-best score with one night of competition left. His three-head score of 235.25 points sends him to Saturday’s championship round at Casper’s Ford Wyoming Center. (Andrew Towne/Casper Star-Tribune Photo) Growing up in Ordway, Colo., the Sharon brothers always competed hard against each other in everything. There was

Traven Sharon, Photo courtesy of UW Rodeo CASPER, Wyo. - Traven Sharon has been chasing rodeo dreams almost as long as he has been able to walk. The University of Wyoming freshman rodeo athlete qualified for the 2026 College National Finals Rodeo in two events, saddle bronc riding and tie-down roping, all of this while many dream of even qualifying for the CNFR. “I grew up on horseback before I could walk and started going to the little rodeos and stuff that were around t

Jayce Hupp, Photo courtesy of UW Athletics. CASPER, Wyo. - As University of Wyoming assistant rodeo coach Jacey Hupp walks through the Ford Wyoming Center during the College National Finals Rodeo, she knows exactly what her student-athletes are experiencing. The South Dakota native competed at the CNFR four times as a contestant for South Dakota State University and qualified for college rodeo's biggest stage every year she was eligible, except during the COVID season when

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 cha

University of Wyoming bareback rider Colton Farrow, from Greybull, posted an 81.5-point ride in the opening round of the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper Sunday. The UW Cowboy’s mark put him in a two-way tie for fourth place in the nation at the end of round one. (Andrew Towne/Casper Star-Tribune Photo) Casper, Wyo. - University of Wyoming's Colton Farrow is believing in himself at the CNFR in 2026. The Greybull native and graduate student rode Freaky Deaky to 81.5 poi

Ashlee Kintzler (Left}, Issac Freese (Right), at the Johnson County Range Rodeo (2025). Courtesy Photo. CASPER, Wyo. – While most 5-year-olds are spending their summer riding bicycles and playing video games, Issac Freese of Casper is preparing for his rodeo debut. On Sunday, Issac will make his mutton busting debut during the opening day of the 2026 College National Finals Rodeo at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper. It's a big stage for a first-timer, which will be streame

Photo by Troy Babbitt, UW Athletics LARAMIE, Wyo. (June 11, 2026) – The 2026 Phil Steele Preseason All-America and All-Conference teams were announced, and 12 Wyoming Cowboys were named to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team. Three Cowboys earned first team honors with three more on the second team and six on the third and fourth teams. Article Continues Below Article Continues Below First Team Samuel “Tote” Harris was named one of the first team running backs. Harris was

Photo by Jeff Bugher, PokesNews.com Are you ready? The CNFR kicks off this Sunday, and the University of Wyoming Rodeo Team is bringing 16 qualifiers to the Casper Events Center. You can buy tickets here. Casper, Wyoming | June 14-20, 2026 Sunday, June 14 1:00 PM - Bulls & Broncs Matinee Traven Sharon - Saddle Bronc Riding Colton Farrow - Bareback Riding Aidan Sawyer - Bull Riding Josie Mousel - Breakaway Roping Olivia Lay - Breakaway Roping Article Continues Below Article

Individual photos courtesy of UW Rodeo The University of Wyoming Rodeo team will be well represented at the 2026 College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR), sending 16 Cowboys and Cowgirls to compete on college rodeo's biggest stage. The week-long championship runs June 14-20 at the Casper Events Center in Casper, Wyoming, bringing together the nation's top collegiate rodeo athletes. Wyoming enters the CNFR after another strong season in the Central Rocky Mountain Region, with qual

Josh Allen at his jersey retirement in Laramie. Photo by Troy Babbitt, UW Athletics. Did you know that Wyoming has a connection to Buffalo, New York that far exceeds the lore of Josh Allen? Buffalo, Wyoming was named by former Buffalo, New York resident Will Hart. Hart settled in the area and submitted the name of his hometown on a slip of paper into a hat during a drawing to name the town at the historic Occidental Hotel. The first name picked was "Buffalo" - thus the name w

Brody Leid Holds a Share of the Individual Lead after a 64 (-8) Photo courtesy of UW Athletics MARICOPA, Arizona (5/22/26) – The University of Wyoming men's golf team completed Round 1 of the 2026 National Golf Invitational on Friday. The Pokes are seventh as a team following a 285 (-3), and Brody Leid holds a share of the individual lead after a 64 (-8) in a tournament being played at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club. "There were some nerves going into today," head coach Joe

Sundance Wicks (R), photo by Troy Babbitt, UW Athletics LARAMIE, Wyo. (May 22, 2026) – Cowboy basketball head coach Sundance Wicks announced the addition of Micah Curtis to the 2026-27 roster on Friday. He is the final scholarship player to the class, as he comes to Wyoming after spending last season at North Dakota. Article Continues Below Article Continues Below Wicks on Curtis “Rounding out our roster I felt we needed to find a young man who had a big chip on his shoulder

Photo courtesy of UW Athletics LARAMIE, Wyoming (5/21/26) – The University of Wyoming men’s golf team completes its 2025-26 season this weekend. The Pokes are set to play in the 2026 National Golf Invitational from Friday through Sunday at AK-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Arizona. It’s a par 72 track that stretches 7,330 yards. Eighteen holes are slated to be completed each day. Article Continues Below Article Continues Below "For such a young team, it's neat th

Photo courtesy of UW Athletics LARAMIE, Wyoming (5/20/26) – The University of Wyoming soccer team released its 2026 schedule on Wednesday. The Cowgirls are set to play 19 regular-season matches with 10 of those being Mountain West Conference games. Article Continues Below Article Continues Below Wyoming's season begins Aug. 9 with an exhibition match against Denver in Laramie. The Cowgirls open the regular season at home Aug. 13 against Drake. The rest of the non-conference

Photo courtesy of UW Athletics MARICOPA, ARIZ. (MAY 17, 2026) – The Wyoming Cowgirls closed out the season in remarkable fashion winning the National Golf Invitational on Sunday afternoon at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz. In Wyoming’s first postseason, the Cowgirls led from wire-to-wire with a tournament record score of 873 (+9). It also marked the first tournament victory for the Brown and Gold since the SUU Thunderbird Invitational in 2023. Article Con