Skyla Riedel

Position:
Multis
Height:
5-8
Class:
Redshirt Freshman

2024-2025
Indoors and Outdoors – medical redshirt for the entire year.

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 2nd team All-District in 2022 and Academic All-District in both 2022 and 2023. However, 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 (2nd in the 100H, 4th in the 300H, and 7th 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 6th 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 (2nd in the 100H, 6 th in the 300H, and 8th in the shot put). During that junior year, she would make finals in the Region III-5A 100H, finishing 7th. Following her junior year, competing for the Richmond Gold Track Club, Skyla won the AAU Region 17 championship heptathlon and placed 16th in 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 – 3rd in the LJ, 5th in both the 100H and the 300H, and 8th place in the shot put. She would then place 9th in the Region III-5A LJ. Following her senior year, 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 19th best throw of any Texas high schooler in 2024). At the AAU Junior Olympics National Championship she placed 11th in the heptathlon to finish her pre-collegiate T&F career. Her HS personal bests: 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, is currently playing soccer for Howard Payne University in Brownwood. At 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.

Why did you choose ACU? 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.