Coca-Cola delivers check to AHS weight-lifting coach

When one begins a new athletic program at a high school, the toughest challenge is finding money to support program. That was the case for new Abbeville High weight lifting team coach Travis Werner.
This year Werner began a new Abbeville High weight lifting team, for male and female students. There are 30 athletes on the team. Their first high school meet will be Jan. 10 at UL-L.
Before that meet, Werner, a former UL powerlifting athlete who still helps coach the UL squad, needed money to purchase new weight lifting equipment and new uniforms.
He went to AHS Principal Ivy Landry, who informed him the school funds were tight. The Abbeville High Hall of Fame Committee agreed to help the football team and the weight lifting team by donating money in order to purchase new weight lifting equipment.
Werner had an idea of his own. Coca-Cola Bottling Company United has a letter writing competition in Acadiana called, “Power Up Your Athletic Program.”
Someone from a school writes a letter to Coca-Cola explaining why funds are needed to power up their athletic program.
The winning school receives $4,000 and a second place finisher gets $2,000.
Werner, with the help of UL weight-lifting friends, created a YouTube Video showing a skinny kid trying to weight lift with old equipment at AHS. Then that skinny kid changes into muscle man after Abbeville High uses the money it wins to purchase new weight lifting equipment.
He also wrote a letter explaining why he thinks Abbeville High should be awarded the “Power Up Your Athletic Program” grant.
Before the Christmas Holidays, representatives from Coca-Cola went to Abbeville High School and informed the school it won $2,000.
Troy Meaux, on-premise manager for Coca-Cola, and Allen Bellard, the distribution manger, informed Landry of the school’s winnings.
Meaux, a 1985 North Vermilion High School graduate, said a panel of judges selected Acadiana High as the $4,000 winner and Abbeville High as the $2,000 winner.
There were 112 schools that applied for the grant.
Principal Landry called the entire weight lifting team and Coach Werner to the office for the big announcement.
When Werner arrived at the office, he was surprised with the check.
“This is incredible,” said Werner after the check presentation. “I want to thank Coca-Cola and this program. It will be put to good use.”
Landry added, “Coca-Cola has been good to Abbeville High School. They have helped with the score board and clocks on the football field.”