LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – Thousands of students across Ohio have taken on the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge — and even more will join them for round two.
The Team Tressel Fitness Challenge was created to help students in fourth through eighth grade develop healthy habits through fitness, nutrition and sleep. Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel designed the program based on his master’s dissertation research, which explored how physical health affects other aspects of wellbeing, including mental and emotional health.
Those same principles form the foundation of the statewide fitness challenge, which launched earlier this school year. Tressel says the program has already exceeded expectations.
“We wanted kids to set goals, try to reach a little bit better every day, see if you could move from bronze to silver to gold. And what we've seen is way more enthusiasm than I ever dreamed of. 183,000 kids are involved. Over 700 schools, public schools, private schools, community schools, charter schools, home schools, online schools. You know, it's been fun to watch,” says Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, (R) Ohio.
After receiving feedback from participating schools, organizers made adjustments for the next round, including expanding eligibility to younger students.
“As it turns out, the third graders have been chomping at the bit to get involved in this. So round two will be third through eighth grade. Our goal is to get over 350,000 kids involved this winter. We may even put together a challenge for the summer for kids to take home as we sit and listen to the needs that the teachers have. And then next fall, our goal is to get nearly every kid to be a part of the fitness challenge, because we want Ohio to be a healthy state,” adds Tressel.
Registration for the second round of the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge ends Nov. 28. For more information, visit www.TeamTressel.Ohio.gov.
