Who’s the best middle school in Ohio? Well to Mr. Reigle it’s ours, and Jim Tressel probably agrees! Niles Middle school was honored with having Ohio’s Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel and one of his past Ohio State players Ted Ginn Jr. visit our school on September 5th and tell us about Team Tressel to keep Ohio fit! With our eighth grade band welcoming him playing the famous Hang on Sloopy, it seemed the Lt. Governor was quite impressed. If you didn’t know who Jim Tressel is, here is information about him.   Jim Tressel was a YSU football head coach in the 80’s and 90’s leading them to four wins in the National Championships between 1986-2000. He then coached at Ohio State University (OSU) from 2001-2010, winning the 2002 National Championship and six Big Ten titles. Since February of 2025, Tressel has served as the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, after being nominated by Governor Mike DeWine.

His first big job as Lt. Governor is going to schools to help Ohio get fit starting with students. When Mr. Reigle got the call that he wanted to come–he couldn’t  pass up the chance to get us great publicity. After introductions, two students from each grade demonstrated easy exercises you can do stretching from yoga poses, push ups, jumping jacks, and even dancing! Mr. Reigle, the mayor, and Ted Ginn Jr. and even the mayor joined in these exercises and seemed to have a really good time.   He then gave us a book to help us track our fitness goals and help us achieve even more. If each student makes it to the gold, we earn a signed certificate.

We are so grateful that Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel chose to visit us at NMS; we all had a great time!