By Rich Winter

605 Sports

On a normal April day Colman-Egan junior Josie Mousel is scrambling to find time to get everything done. A three-time Class B state champion in the high jump, and an outstanding rodeo athlete, Mousel is usually just trying to keep everything balanced. 

On Jan. 3 in a basketball game against Howard, Mousel’s athletics world unraveled.

“I jump-stopped, it hurt and I knew it would be a long recovery if it was a torn ACL,” Mousel said. 

Mousel picked herself up off the floor, went into the hallway and tried to walk it off. She went back on the court, played for a couple minutes, went up for a rebound and knew immediately something was seriously wrong. 

After seeing the doctor the next day, the torn ACL diagnosis came to which Mousel said she was devastated. 

“We were doing really well,” she said. 

Indeed they were. 

The Hawks started their season 8-1 behind the play of Mousel and senior Mackenzie Hemmer. Mousel, a 6-foot guard, was averaging 16.8 ppg and 5.6 rpg prior to the injury. Hemmer averaged 19.3 ppg and 8.5 rpg for the season. 

Despite losing one of their better players, Colman-Egan earned the No. 1 seed in Region 4B. The Hawks (16-5) eventually lost to Howard (51-46) in the 4B semis. 

Three times a week Mousel travels to Sioux Falls for rehab. 

A high jump champion and a key cog on several Colman-Egan relays, Mousel is missing competing for the defending Class B team champions. 

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“I’m missing track a lot and it’s tough,” she said. “I was state champion (high jump) my 7th and 8th-grade years and again as a sophomore and I wanted to keep that going.” 

With plenty of free time Mousel has been riding her horses (Skeeter and Puff) and working on her roping. 

“We have this dummy calf in the basement and I’ve roped it over and over,” she said.

From the moment the knee was injured, with a lot of late nights put in, Mousel has been mentally envisioning making it to the National High School Finals Rodeo in breakaway roping. 

Known more as a goat tying specialist Mousel says she likely won’t be able to do goat tying this summer.

“Goat tying is my favorite event but I probably won’t be able to do that this year,” she said. “I’ll be doing breakaway roping, team roping and maybe even try barrel racing a little this summer.”

The prognosis from Mousel’s doctors looks good. 

“I should be running in a couple weeks,” she said. “The doctors told me six months recovery but probably closer to nine months until I’m fully recovered.” 

Time away from two of her favorite sports has Mousel itching to get back to competition. 

“You don’t realize how much you enjoy something and kinda take everything for granted,” she said. 

Mousel’s first rodeo competition takes place with practice rodeos in Burke in late April and Geddes on May 1. Two weekends later she’ll be taking another crack with rodeos scheduled in Scotland and Wagner. 

With her senior year approaching Mousel isn’t sure what college or even what sport she’ll pursue at the next level. 

“That’s the big question,” she said. “It will come down to rodeo or track and what situation works best for me.”