School Committee member James Harrington bested colleague Jacob Oliveira in the competition.
Joshua DesforgesLUDLOW - Two School Committee members recently participated in the second annual Sgt. Joshua D. Desforges Fitness Challenge.
School Committee member James P. “Chip” Harrington, 44, said he bested School Committee member Jacob Oliveira, 25, in the physical fitness challenge.
“I beat him last year, but this year he beat me,” Oliveira said.
“Score one for the old guys,” Harrington said.
The physical fitness challenge is organized by Ludlow High School Attendance Officer Thomas Cote to raise money for a scholarship in memory of Marine Sgt. Joshua D. Desforges, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in May 2010.
This year there were 43 participants in the challenge which was held in the Ludlow High School gymnasium.
The challenge, which lasts an hour, consists of military push-ups, pull-ups, squats and abdominal workouts, Oliveira said.
After two half hour rounds of competition, those who are left standing, which this year was 19 participants, compete in a final round of pull-ups.
“I did not make it,” Oliveira, who described himself as a sporadic athlete, said.
Harrington said he trains full-time ever since he had neck surgery in 2010.
The winner of this year’s contest was Ryan Wytas, a junior at Ludlow High School, and Jennifer Maurer, a second grade elementary teacher at East Street School.
“The contest was worthy of our Marine,” said Cote, a Marine veteran who was a mentor to Desforges at Ludlow High School.
At this year’s fitness challenge nearly $10,000 was raised for the Sgt. Joshua D. Desforges Memorial Fund which will award $500 to $1,000 scholarships to Ludlow High School graduates.
Harrington said the scholarships are not only available to those going on to college.
“You could be passionate about being a plumber, a member of the military, or an actor,” Harrington said, and apply for the scholarship.
He said the Desforges family will award the scholarships to Ludlow High School graduates..
Scholarship applications are due by April 30. The applications are available through the Guidance Department at Ludlow High School.
Mugs honoring Desforges also are being sold to benefit the scholarship fund. They cost $20 and are for sale at Our Town Variety, Ludlow High School and by calling Cote at 413-427-9079.