The National Physical Fitness Champions from the South Bronx Campus on the field at Yankee Stadium

This spring, a team of Bronx high school students pushed harder, leapt farther, and sprinted faster than fifty teams from across the country.  

The students were honored at home plate at Yankee Stadium for placing first in the National Physical Fitness Championship in San Diego, a two-day competition hosted by the United States Marine Corps. The competition tests endurance, mental alertness, and self-discipline through a range of physical activities including sit-ups, push-ups, and long jump.

Ranked number one in the United States, the fitness athletes at the South Bronx Campus, which houses several small high schools, are on a winning streak. This year’s win at the national championship was the team’s second straight victory at the competition and the team’s third win in four years. Coach Lou Schlanger has led the team through these several successful seasons.

The students said they were thrilled to be honored at Yankee Stadium.

“It was so cool to stand at home plate with our banner and my teammates,” Elizear Torres, a senior at the Urban Assembly School for Careers in Sports, said. “I felt so proud." 

If you have a story about a NYC school or student, e-mail us at MyStory@schools.nyc.gov.
Please include a photo with your story. Photos of students require a signed media consent form, which you can fax to (212) 374-5584.