Plainfield South coaches will be implementing a new weight training program for their athletes next school year, paving the way for each student to fulfill their personal and team goals.
The program ensures that student athletes as well as those not involved in a school sport are conditioned year round to perform at their absolute best.
James O’Connell is a P.E teacher and one of the core leaders of the weightroom responsible for the future plan.
“It’s not just for one individual or one sport, it’s for everybody,” said O’Connell. “So we have people who aren’t athletes, and that’s fine, and then we have athletes who are a part of different teams who are going to be in this program next year.”
Through the new program, cardio and mobility exercises will be utilized to maintain the agility of athletes and prevent midseason staleness. According to O’Connell, it is also crucial for athletes to weightlift prior to their season in order to get in peak shape before their competitions and games ahead.
Leo Gamino, a junior, is a kicker on the football team. While not in season, Gamino ensures that the muscles required to launch the ball downfield are still being activated in strenuous ways.
“I train small amounts of everything but mainly focus on the lower body such as quads, hamstrings, hip flexors, and explosiveness,” said Gamino.
Jeremiah Ranceful, a junior, is a defensive end on the football team and lifts frequently throughout the week while out of season. According to Ranceful, he trains all muscle groups to establish a proper foundation for his sport in terms of strength.
“ I write down my PR’s and set a long term goal for me to meet in a certain time,” said Ranceful.
Tracking personal growth is crucial for athletes and those serious about becoming stronger. PLT4M (pronounced “platform”) is an app currently used in the weightroom here at South.
“It’s everything. It’s providing instant data and feedback to our students and they can see their progression immediately,” said O’Connell. “We can show them from where they started at the beginning of the class all the way to the end and how much they got better and stronger.”
Seeing progression is said to be truly the greatest reward of various exercise endeavors like lifting weights among those that partake. The new program will capitalize on this experience and grant each and every student the opportunity to build not only their strength but character as well.

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