CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Lee University athletic department as part of an effort to improve student athlete wellness on campus, has opened a new nutrition station.

The new station, named "Fuel the Flames" is a supplemental food and drink space for student athletes to help fuel them between classes and around practice times. It isn't a spot to replace meals but provides extra fuel on the go.

Breanne Crittenden, the Assistant Athletic Director for Student Athlete Wellness, is excited about what the new station can provide for the student athletes. "Student athlete life can be really difficult, and so this is kind of a supplemental program to help fuel them for success."

Located in the McKenzie Athletic Center, the Fuel the Flames center is centrally located to all the athletic complexes on campus. It is open on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons for the athletes to come by. The athletic department partnered with Sodexo dining and Registered Dietician Amanda Ceglarz MS, RD, LD to provide healthy options for the athletes.

Ryan Lovelace, a cross country and track athlete, is appreciative of the new station. "Honestly, as a student athlete, a lot of times I find myself rushed with morning practice or afternoon practice. And then I find myself having a class I got to go to. So, it's beneficial just to have something that's centrally located on campus that I can grab and just go on my way.

"Athletic Director John Maupin brought this to a group of us and said let's make this come alive," Crittenden noted.  "So, a group of people from the athletic staff got together and figured out what could this look like for Lee. We made connections with Sodexo to expand the partnership we have with them and dining services."

Crittenden has already seen positive feedback from the student athletes. "Athletes have been really receptive to receiving this as an option for them to fuel, whether it's before, after practice or after weights. It's a great option for them and they seem to really like it."