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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:*
October 27, 2025




*MEDIA CONTACT:
*Nathan Takitch: 614-644-0957
Julia Poling: 614-466-0990






*Tressel Announces Updates to Team Tressel Fitness Challenge, Sign Up for Winter Challenge Now Open*

"*Schools Can Sign Up for February 2026 Challenge*"

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Lt. Governor Jim Tressel today announced that Ohio schools can now sign up to participate in the next Team Tressel Fitness Challenge that begins on February 2, 2026. *Sign up is open now until November 28, 2025 [ [link removed] ]*. He also announced updates to the challenge based on feedback received from school participants.

"We saw a lot of positive impacts through the fall challenge and learned how to make it even better for the future," said Lt. Governor Tressel. "We want our young people to think about their health and well-being and how it can help them long term."

Schools who participated in the fall challenge are automatically enrolled in the next unless they choose to opt out. 

"The work that the Lt. Governor is doing through the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge is making a positive impact on the lives of so many children across Ohio," said Governor Mike DeWine. "By encouraging our kids to create healthy habits from a young age, and by giving them the chance to see how much better they feel when they get good exercise, sleep, and eat nutritious foods, we are setting a foundation for our next generation of Ohioans to prioritize their health and well-being and carry those habits with them for the rest of their lives."

The challenge will now be available for students in *grades 3 through 8*, expanding to one additional grade level from the fall challenge. Students will receive challenge workbooks dedicated to their grade level, encouraging them to personalize their goals as they move throughout the challenge.

"It’s been amazing to see so many kids across the state excited about their health and determined to achieve their goals," said Challenge Captain Ted Ginn Jr. "The impact this has already had on students, their schools, and their families has been fun to watch. I’m glad I have the opportunity to work on the challenge and act as a role model for Ohio’s next generation of leaders."

Jim Tressel with crowd of students. play button to watch video on YouTube. [ [link removed] ]

Based on feedback received from school leaders across Ohio, the curriculum for the next challenge has also been updated to encourage students to build on their goals at each medal level. Students will create their goals from a list of activity options in the five categories of Cardio, Strength, Flexibility, Nutrition, and Sleep. After each level, students will reflect on their progress during “Quiet Time” before setting goals for the next level.

"We heard from school leaders that one of the best parts of the challenge was allowing students to set their own goals and then reflect on what they did," said Lt. Governor Tressel. "It made them think about why they were doing this and how it can make them a better person. We streamlined the curriculum for the winter challenge to allow students to create a more focused plan and work on the things that are most important to them without being overwhelmed."

The challenge was created as part of Governor Mike DeWine’s efforts to make Ohioans healthier and help every person live up to their full potential. Led by Lt. Governor Tressel, the challenge strives to help students across Ohio form healthy habits in fitness, nutrition, and sleep through individual goal setting. In the inaugural fall challenge, almost 183,000 students from over 700 schools participated.

"It’s inspiring to see the positive impact the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge is having on students across Ohio," said Stephen D. Dackin, Director of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. "When students set goals around health and wellness, they’re building habits that support their success in school and in life."

The challenge was designed to be completed by students before, during, or after school. Flexibility is built in for schools who desire a more active role.

For more information, visit TeamTressel.Ohio.gov [ [link removed] ].

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