Leveraging Tech to Streamline PE and S&C on Two High School Campuses

Introduction

McHenry Community High School stands out as a statewide leader in physical education and strength training, thanks to the leadership of John Beerbower—Director of Strength & Conditioning and Assistant Divisional Chair for PE, Health, and Driver’s Education.

Managing over 800 student-athletes across two campuses, Beerbower has transformed the school’s approach to training, integrating innovation and structure through TeamBuildr. The platform has become a vital asset in managing both daily PE classes and sport-specific training groups while maintaining a high standard of excellence and efficiency.

Challenge

Operating a robust strength and conditioning program across two campuses presents significant logistical challenges. With over 800 students and 26 class sections, maintaining consistency, tracking progress, and communicating efficiently was a constant struggle—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paper-based systems were no longer viable, and coaches needed a scalable, tech-driven solution that could provide real-time access to programming, facilitate performance tracking, and offer clear communication between staff and athletes. Additionally, with so many athletes interacting with various coaches throughout their high school career, there was a pressing need for one unified system to ensure continuity in development.

Coaches and Physical Education teachers needed a scalable way to collect and view data at any moment in time. “Athletes are around so many different coaches, teachers, and people throughout their journey across four years of high school,” Beerbower said.

Solution

TeamBuildr became the program’s central platform, solving these challenges with a comprehensive, user-friendly platform. Coaches can instantly distribute programs, make updates, and track athlete performance in real time. The app’s leaderboard feature drives competition and engagement by automatically updating PRs, while the team feed functions as a communication hub for important announcements across both campuses.

Efficiency is at the core of McHenry’s use of TeamBuildr. The calendar copy feature allows coaches to replicate workouts across multiple groups, saving hours of programming time. Reporting tools enable quarterly assessments, offering insights into each athlete’s progress and allowing for data-driven coaching decisions. Every McHenry athlete receives a TeamBuildr account as a freshman, and that account stays with them throughout their high school journey—ensuring continuity no matter what coach or class they’re in.

“TeamBuildr is the one unifying thing that ties it all together,” Beerbower says. “Whether it’s one of our 26 sports or any year in school, your data follows you. That’s powerful.”

Results

By leveraging TeamBuildr, McHenry has created an efficient, data-driven system that connects every athlete’s journey from start to finish. Students enjoy immediate access to their progress via the app, fostering ownership of their development.

Coaches benefit from streamlined programming, better communication, and deeper insights into student performance. The transition to a fully digital, centralized system not only increased operational efficiency but also elevated the level of athlete engagement and accountability. For McHenry, TeamBuildr isn’t just a tool—it’s the backbone of a high-performing, modern strength and PE program.