Facility Spotlight: UCI Fueling Station
April 10, 2024 | General
PHOTO GALLERY
The commitment to UC Irvine student-athletes is personified in the re-imagined Fueling Station. What was once a place to pick up a snack has been elevated to the hub of the athletic complex.
"While the primary approach is to make sure student-athletes have basic fueling needs met, what the larger vision is, that we have gotten to and want to keep building on, is the community aspect." Associate Athletic Director John Abdou said. "This is a community-building area. Not only are athletes getting fuel and education, they are also getting to see other student athletes, connecting with a nutritionist or a coach, and benefiting from a recovery space with new modalities. It's broader than just a transaction of food. This is a very active place. Every student-athlete touches this place weekly, multiple times, which again brings the community."
The center is grounded by Nutrition and Wellness Consultant Dr. Kendra Kautz. Kautz has weekly office hours and does team talks focusing on the both the mental and physical education of fueling the body.
"I think one of the things I talk about the most is how much your nutritional health plays a role in how your body is doing structurally and affecting your performance." "I had so many injuries when I was an athlete and wish I had someone to educate me. There is a mental piece that needs help as well as the physical."
Women's soccer players Laila El Behery and Emilie Castagna come in every workout.
"Even if I have breakfast, I come in and grab a Clean Energy before practice and these little things help with our performance, " El Behery said.
"With workouts in the afternoon and with class there isn't time for lunch unless you meal prep so you need something before training," Castagna continued.
"It's nice to sit here and meet people and talk to Dr. Kendra. It's become a habit to be there," El Behery ended.
Student-Athletes take advantage of everything the Fueling Station has to offer before and after lifting, practice or treatments. Resources for recovery like yoga, mindfulness and cooking clinics are also available and a reason to stop by.
The station itself is fueled by partnerships such as Clean Energy, a fruit-based smoothie, providing natural food. Gatorade, a long-term partner, provides Muscle Milk protein shakes, while Yakult, a probiotic drink is also offered plus fresh foods from Costco.
Partnerships continue in Sports Medicine with Motus Physical Therapy and Mankind Physical Therapy, which provide athletes with high level on-site care for student-athletes.
Campus partners are also important as well. The Anteater Recreation Center offers its yoga instructors while the UCI Wellness Center lends mindfulness coaches. Herb & Ranch, an eatery on campus, gives a discount for teams to purchase meals on hot food options and occasional fully sponsored meals.
With partnerships at the core of the station, it is a priority for Abdou to continuously build relationships that will continue to expand the resources.
"Our student-athletes understand that how they fuel your bodies, how they treat their bodies, how they treat their recovery, sleep and hydration have a direct impact on performance," Abdou noted. "Interactions affect performance too. A smiling face, someone who is happy to see them. Even if they don't take advantage of every resource, they know it's there for them if they need it. It lends itself to confidence and taking some risks because they know someone has their back. We are putting our student-athletes in a position to feel so comfortable that they can perform at the highest level and knowing they have a safety net to support them."
The department celebrated the Fueling Station with a gathering, handing each student-athlete a Takeya water bottle and a plated lunch from Herb and Ranch.
The success of the Anteater teams this season show the holistic approach is getting results. Four UCI teams have won a Big West Championship with men's basketball capturing the regular season title.
