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Stillwater area high school athletes are improving their performance with a new focus on nutrition

Thursday, July 2, 2015


More than 800 athletes are learning how to fuel their bodies to maximize their performance with the help of PowerUp, in partnership with Lakeview Hospital, Stillwater Medical Group, Ponies Touchdown Club and Stillwater Area High School.  



Lakeview Hospital Dietitian Susan Crowell poses with some of the Varsity athletes.

  Lakeview Hospital dietitian Susan Crowell, MS, RD, CDE brings her expertise in sports nutrition to coaches and teams at Stillwater High School to help educate and motivate athletes to eat better and PowerUp. Susan utilizes the PowerUp Playbook as a resource guide for students. The Playbook is a practical nutrition guide based on sports nutrition research to help athletes achieve top performance by fueling their bodies with the right foods and hydration.   

“Developing the PowerUp Sports Nutrition Playbook was important to educate students, parents and coaches on the proper nutrition and hydration for athletes on and off the field,” said Susan Crowell. “This book provides specifics on how to calculate carbohydrates and protein needs based on the individual athlete’s needs.”   This is the first year that all sports teams have been required to take the nutrition class.   

“The feedback from students has been great,” stated Stillwater Coach Mike Weiss. “A majority of our athletes are unsure about proper nutrition or have incorrect information, so having Susan on hand to work with students has been great!”

This partnership began back in 2013 when parents and coaches discovered a need to focus on nutrition for their athletes.  

“Since our first discussion with PowerUp in 2013, this program has become a huge opportunity for athletes to learn about their bodies, nutrition and healthy lifestyles,” said Head Football Coach Beau LaBore. “The St. Croix Valley is fortunate to have Lakeview Hospital, Stillwater Medical Group and PowerUp taking a vested interest in our athletes and programs. Dietitian Susan’s passion for the PowerUp mission is contagious. She has had a meaningful impact on many of our young athletes - one that could last a lifetime."