Former Ohio State and NFL wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. brought his trademark energy and positivity to Canton South Middle School this week, encouraging students to make fitness and healthy living a lifelong habit as part of the statewide Team Tressel Fitness Challenge.
The initiative, launched in partnership with Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, invites students in grades 4 through 8 to set and track daily goals in three key areas: fitness, nutrition, and sleep. Schools across Ohio joined the challenge earlier this year to help students develop habits that improve focus and overall well-being.
Canton South Middle School signed up in July, and physical education teacher Craig Lieser said the students have been logging their progress every day since the school year began. When the school learned that Ginn would be visiting, excitement quickly spread through the halls.
“The kids were thrilled,” Lieser said. “They’ve been working hard on the challenge, so having Ted Ginn Jr. come and talk to them was a huge motivator. They asked him all kinds of questions about his fitness routine, what he eats, how much sleep he gets — they were really engaged.”
Lieser said the inspiration behind participating in the challenge stemmed partly from his own family’s experiences.
“Like a lot of parents, I noticed how much screen time my own kids were getting,” he said. “We wanted to do something to get students up, moving, and spending more time outside — and this challenge gave us that push.”
For Ginn, who played 14 seasons in the NFL after starring at Ohio State, the visit to Canton South was part of his broader mission to help young people build healthy lifestyles. He now works with Tressel and other former athletes to travel to schools across the state, often visiting two or three campuses each week.
Canton South was the first stop on Ginn’s Stark County tour. After spending the morning speaking with middle school students, answering their questions, and sharing stories from his playing days, he continued his day with a visit to Fairless Elementary School — another Stark County district participating in the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge.
“This challenge isn’t just for athletes — it’s for everybody,” Ginn said. “We want kids to understand that fitness and nutrition are part of living a good life, no matter what you do. It’s about creating habits early that they can carry with them forever.”
He added that many schools today offer only limited physical education, which makes programs like this especially important.
“Some kids only have gym once a week,” Ginn said. “We need to show them how to move their bodies, eat right, and get good sleep. Those little things make a big difference.”
The Team Tressel Fitness Challenge runs for 90 days and includes three achievement levels — Bronze, Silver, and Gold — based on the number of goals students meet over time. At Canton South, students have been earning recognition as they complete each phase, and Lieser said the challenge has already sparked noticeable changes.
“You can see the difference,” he said. “Students are talking about their goals, reminding each other to drink water, get outside, and even go to bed earlier. It’s not just about fitness — it’s about building balance.”
As Ginn wrapped up his visit, he reminded the students that discipline and consistency were key — both on and off the field.
“It starts with one small choice every day,” Ginn told them. “If we can teach kids that now, we can build stronger families and healthier communities for the future.”
For more information on the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge, visit education.ohio.gov/TeamTressel.
