At 17， They’re Already Deadlifting Over 500 Pounds. Here’s How.

A radiating voice commands attention as it echoes through the gym: “Load. Under bar. Step Out. Squat. Squat. Re-rack.” A bellowing grunt is followed by a final clack of steel-on-steel as the barbell reconnects with the J-hook. Backs are slapped and hands are highfived. There’s a plate swap-out worthy of a Nascar pit crew， and the cycle repeats. The sounds don’t quite align with the sights. Yes， there’s shiny barbells and lines of industrial power racks mimicking your local meathead hotspot. That bellowing grunt isn't administered by a jacked dude in a wife beater， though. It’s a 110-pound 14-year-old sporting pajama pants and a beanie. On any given afternoon， you’ll find around 80 teenagers， ages 13 to 18， lined up four to a barbell rack. There are more boys than girls， but not by many. They look like average teens—some lanky， some stout， some ripped， some soft—all building more strength. This isn't Gold’s Gym or WestSide Barbell， it’s Three Rivers High School.