At a small rural school in Illinois where many students are multi-sport athletes, Cuba High School has built a strength program that rivals those found in much larger districts. With graduating classes of around thirty students and limited space and equipment, Cuba has had to be creative in how it approaches physical education and athletic development.
PE teacher Ryan Hartsock, now in his fourth year at Cuba, leads junior high and high school PE, including three sections of weights and conditioning. Stepping into a program with strong foundations, Ryan saw an opportunity to continue growing a strength culture built on consistency, pride, and visible progress.
Building On Traditions & Creating Opportunity
Ryan credits his predecessor—now assistant principal Jay Brenner—for laying the groundwork. Brenner invested in the weight room, brought PLT4M to the school, and helped establish many of the traditions that still define the program today.
“He really got the ball rolling,” Ryan explains. “I inherited something great, and I’ve tried to keep building on it.”
For a small school like Cuba, the weight room has become one of the best ways to level the playing field. “We’re just a small school doing our best to keep up with the bigger ones,” Ryan says, “and the weight room is a great opportunity for us to do that.”
With purposeful programming and tools like PLT4M, every student—whether an experienced athlete or a brand-new lifter—has a meaningful path to progress.
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A Small School Creating Big Opportunities in the Weight Room
Cuba’s weight room has become a powerful space for building strength, confidence, and school pride. Each 45-minute class begins with a warm-up and dynamic stretching in the gym before moving into the weight room for focused training. With only four racks, Ryan uses the hallway and gym creatively so every student stays active.
“We don’t have a huge facility,” Ryan says, “but we make the most out of every inch. Our kids work hard, and that’s what matters.”
Ryan groups students by ability and comfort level, with upperclassmen leading their groups and managing PLT4M’s rack view during class. This provides structure and fosters leadership.
He emphasizes full-body training, blending PLT4M programs with custom workouts tailored to the school’s layout and schedule.
“I like that I can build my own programs,” Ryan says. “Or if I see something great in another PLT4M program, I can take it and make it work for us.”
All progression and performance data is logged in PLT4M, giving students clear evidence of their growth each week.
From foundational movement work to advanced strength development, every student has a path toward improvement.
Leadership, Community, and Multi-Grade Collaboration
Cuba’s weights classes include freshmen through seniors, which creates opportunities for meaningful peer mentoring. Ryan intentionally designs mixed groups so younger lifters can learn from experienced ones.
“It’s awesome,” Ryan explains. “You get the older kids mentoring the younger ones, showing them the ropes, helping them use PLT4M, and keeping them on track. It builds leadership and community at the same time.”
Because the workouts are consistent and organized in PLT4M, students know exactly what to do and how to support one another. The multi-grade dynamic isn’t a challenge—it’s a strength that reinforces community in the weight room.
Celebrating Progress: The Wall Tradition & Strength Milestones
One of the most meaningful traditions in Cuba’s weight room is the moment a student earns the right to sign the wall. It’s more than a record board—it represents commitment, steady progress, and the belief that every student can achieve something worth celebrating.
Students track their bench, squat, and clean totals throughout the year. All of these numbers are logged in PLT4M, giving students a digital record of improvement long before they reach a milestone.
Ryan has created multiple strength tiers for boys and girls so that every student has realistic, motivating targets—not just an elite number that only a few can hit.
“We wanted more than just a 1000-pound club,” Ryan says. “Multiple levels give kids something to strive for at every stage.”
Cuba also highlights relative strength through its Pound-for-Pound Club.
“This helps the wiry, smaller kids get their moment too,” Ryan explains. “Pound-for-pound strength matters.”
Additional metrics—like the power clean and a yearly “combine” measuring the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, and broad jump—give students diverse ways to showcase growth. All of it lives in PLT4M, giving students a complete portfolio of progress.
When a classmate reaches a milestone, the class pauses to cheer, take pictures, and watch the student sign the wall.
“It’s huge for them,” Ryan says. “They’re proud of it. They talk about it. They work for it.”
Through these traditions, Cuba High School has built a strength culture defined not by size or resources, but by effort, community, and pride.
Key Takeaways From Cuba High School
Cuba High School’s strength program proves that a small school—with limited space but strong commitment—can create big results. Through thoughtful structure, personalized programming, and traditions that celebrate every level of progress, Cuba High School has built a weight room culture where students feel motivated, supported, and proud of their achievements.
With PLT4M helping track progress, guide instruction, and personalize training, Cuba has created a program that not only prepares students for athletics, but builds confidence and community that lasts far beyond graduation.
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