LOUDONVILLE — Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel hosted an assembly for fourth through sixth graders at C.E. Budd Elementary to learn about the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge.
The 90-day journey challenges Ohio students to build healthy habits in physical activity, sleep and nutrition through personalized goal setting.
More than 182,000 students in over 700 schools statewide are participating in the challenge, according to a press release.
Now, Tressel is traveling to some of the participating schools to speak with students about the program and its importance.
“We’re not in a race; it’s not a contest. It’s a challenge for you — wherever you are today — to improve every day and for you to be able to pick the activities you’d like, for you to be able to set your goals, for you to be able to achieve your goals.”
Tressel told students
He started the presentation by talking to the students about the challenge, which started on Sept. 8.
Each student received a fitness challenge workbook that provides activities students can do to promote healthier habits in cardio, strength, mobility, balance, mindful eating and quality sleep.
Students move from bronze, to silver to gold status as they complete activities each day. At the bronze level, Tressel challenges students to create a goal for each category and complete those six goals every day for 10 days.
At the silver level, Tressel challenges students to complete 10 goals every day for 20 days. And at the gold level, students must create 12 goals and complete each one for 30 days.
After each level, teachers or building coordinators sign off the student’s booklet to move them to the next level.
“We will be a healthier Ohio. We will have all of our Ohioans reach their God-given potential. So that’s why we set out to do this,” Tressel said.
During the assembly, Tressel invited six students to help demonstrate an activity for some of the categories. The students danced, did jumping jacks, completed push-ups and more.
Tressel reminded students the challenge is adaptable to their fitness levels.
“Let’s meet these kids where they are because we want handicapped kids to be able to do it, we want kids who haven’t been very active, we want kids who love activity,” Tressel said.
The Team Tressel Fitness Challenge is a partnership between the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce with former Ohio State and NFL wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. serving as a “challenge captain.”
Ginn is also traveling to Ohio schools to promote the challenge.
Tressel wrapped up the presentation by playing a reflex game with the students and teachers before they returned to class.
Tressel said the program will run again in early 2026 and he and his team will continue to adapt the program to better serve students.
