Before ACU: Skyla played both volleyball and T&F for Foster HS in Richmond, TX – close to Houston in
Fort Bend County. In volleyball, she was a 2 year letterman and 2 nd team All-District in 2022 and
Academic All-District in both 2022 and 2023. But, it was on the track where she made her mark. As a HS
freshman, she placed in 3 individual events at the District 24-5A meet (2 nd in the 100H, 4 th in the 300H,
and 7 th in the triple jump). She would make it to the Region III-5A meet that first year in the 100H. As a
sophomore, Skyla would place 6 th in the District 17-5A 100H. In her junior year, her HS career took
another leap forward as she placed in 3 individual events at the District 20-5A meet (2 nd in the 100H, 6 th
in the 300H, and 8 th in the shot put). As a junior, she would make finals in the Region III-5A 100H,
finishing 7 th . Following her junior year, competing for the Richmond Gold Track Club, Skyla won the AAU
Region 17 championship in the heptathlon and placed 16 th at the AAU Junior Olympic Nationals
heptathlon. Her senior year was a fitting close to an outstanding HS career as she placed in 4 individual
events at the District 20-5A meet – 3 rd in the LJ, 5 th in both the 100H and the 300H, and 8 th place in the
shot put. She would then place 9 th in the Region III-5A LJ. Following her senior year, again competing for
the Richmond Gold Track Club, she won the AAU Region 17 heptathlon with a PR of 4,241 points, as well
as winning the region championship in the javelin, with a PR throw of 111-2 (the 19 th best throw of any
Texas high schooler in 2024). At the AAU Junior Olympics National Championship she placed 11 th in the
heptathlon to finish her pre-collegiate T&F career. Her HS PR’s: 4,241 - heptathlon; 15.50 - 100H; 5-0 –
HJ; 33-1.25 – SP; 26.89 – 200; 17-5.5 – LJ; 111-2 JT; and 2:40.67 – 800.

Personal: Skyla is a 2024 graduate of Richmond Foster HS, where she was a member of the National
Honor Society. Her parents are Carolyn and Randy Riedel and her brother, Ashton, who is currently a
junior at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, playing soccer. As ACU, Skyla is a Nursing major. She
is also an active volunteer with Lunches of Love and Catholic Charities through her home church, Sacred
Heart Catholic Church.

The Christian values the University strives to uphold. The campus is beautifully landscaped and well-maintained, which provides a relaxing and peaceful environment to learn. I was also drawn to the beautiful town of Abilene and its welcoming atmosphere.

What is your favorite thing about ACU: There 4 things – 1) the location of the campus; 2) the sporting
events and all the hype that comes with them; 3) the bells that play beautiful hymns as I walk to class;
and 4) the professors, who take the time to know and help me. As a student at ACU, you are not just a
number.