Historical Signing Day in Abbeville

Jayla Reaux, a senior at Abbeville School, made history in Vermilion Parish on Wednesday.
Reaux signed a letter of intent to attend Midland University in Nebraska and be part of its female powerlifting team.
She becomes the first female from the parish to sign a powerlifting scholarship.
Midland University, a small private university in Nebraska, is one of the few colleges that offer scholarships in powerlifting.
Most universities, such as UL-Lafayette, look at powerlifting as club sport and do not offer club sport scholarships.
She will join former AHS powerlifter Chuck Shufford, who is considered the best collegiate lifter in his weight class at Midland University.
Reaux said she began powerlifting as something to do. She never thought it would lead to two state titles (her sophomore and senior year) and a college scholarship.
“My first two years of lifting, I just went through the motions and did not take it seriously,” said Reaux. “After I won state my sophomore year, I began thinking I could enjoy doing this for a long time.”
The summer before her freshman year, she developed a passion for the sport. She has always looked forward to going into the weight room to lift. She saw the progress and how she could get stronger and stronger because of the work she put into lifting.
Thanks to Chuck signing a scholarship, she was aware that Midland University offers scholarships. Not long ago, she went on Midland’s website and filled out a recruiting form. She entered her high school accomplishments and powerlfting weight total into the website.
It caught the coaches’ attention, and they contacted her.
Reaux said she is ready to move and go live in another state and meet new people.
“I am excited,” she said. “I know the environment and weight room are nice at the university. I ready to get started training and see what I can do on the college level.”
The man who helped make her into collegiate powerlifter is AHS powerlifting coach Travis Werner. Werner said Reaux’s approach to training is first class.
“Her approach to training is so intelligent,” said Werner. “Every lift is thought out. She has adjusted her form without coaching. She is a student of the game.”
She is the daughter of Chrystal Reaux and Jerath Bessard.