University of Virginia football players Chico Bennett Jr. and Kobe Pace have struck an NIL ambassadorship, facilitated by CavFutures, with Chill Cville Wellness Center. Owners Fran Vicente and Dawn Woodring offer a wellness practice with “a unique and innovative approach to physical recovery and well-being.” Chill Cville offers cryotherapy, a treatment that uses hyper-cooled air of -150°F to -240°F, triggering the body's natural healing mechanisms as though it were freezing. Cryotherapy has been used by notable athletes such as Lebron James, Christian McCaffrey, and Usain Bolt and is a well-known practice within the NFL where teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos have Cryo Chambers in their training centers. 

The treatment intrigued Pace and Bennett, who know the physical toll a 12-game season takes on a player’s body. Expectations were high for Bennett coming off a 7.5 sack 2022 season that earned him an all-ACC honorable mention. But a knee injury suffered during an August practice kept him sidelined for Virginia’s week one opener against Tennessee. Pace, who leads the Cavaliers in rushing yards this season, has managed to stay healthy, but he knows how frustrating it is to miss time. In September 2022, Pace suffered a high ankle sprain that required a surgical procedure to keep him on the field. The two players’ individual struggles with injury led them to take a more proactive approach to their health. “Anything I can do to give myself a better chance to stay healthy and have an impact on the field, I’m all for it,” Bennett said. 

In addition to full-body cryotherapy chamber, Chill Cville offers Normatech sleeves, red light therapy and precision cryotherapy, all of which Pace and Bennett have utilized at the wellness center. According to Chill Cville, precision cryotherapy has a “soothing impact on the swollen tissue and decreases pain sensitivity,” which appeals to Pace and Bennett, who routinely endure collisions on the field. “As a running back, my job is to take hits,” Pace said. “Being able to recover faster gives me the edge I need to be my best.”

The ambassadorship focuses heavily on utilizing social media to promote Chill Cville, while allowing the athletes to access high-value recovery services. The two players noted they receive both cryotherapy and red-light therapy at Chill Cville after every practice. “We are so excited to be able to help these amazing student athletes recover and achieve their performance goals,” said co-owner Dawn Woodring, “and we’re fortunate to be in our new location at Millmont Shops behind Barracks Rd, so it’s quick and easy for the guys to stop in each day.”

“We applaud these young athletes taking the initiative to look after their health, and we are excited to continue working with an amazing local business.” said Lo Davis, Executive Director of CavFutures. This is the second year of partnerships between CavFutures and Chill Cville, but the first to include UVA Football players. In addition to Pace and Bennett, Chill Cville will work with Women’s Basketball student-athlete Camryn Taylor as she works to prepared for an exciting season.