Powerlifter Bobb Matthews (105KG) Scores 952.5-Kilogram (2,099.3-Pound) Total, Wins 2022 USAPL Virginia Pro

Robert Zeglinski — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 20:44:28 +0000

Before 2022, Bobb Matthews might have been an ascending star, but he could never quite break through on a sanctioned lifting platform. Aside from some solid podium finishes, he was awaiting his turn to shine in the spotlight. In what was likely his last competitive appearance of the 2022 calendar year, Matthews came, saw, and conquered.

On Dec. 10, 2022, Matthews (105KG) won the 2022 USA Powerlifting (USAPL) Virginia Pro when he captured a 952.5-kilogram (2,099.3-pound) raw total. Per Open Powerlifting, Matthews’ total is an all-time competition personal record (PR) of 22.2 kilograms (49 pounds). Perhaps not by coincidence, Matthews’ past PR total of 930 kilograms (2,050.3 pounds) occurred at the 2022 USAPL Mega Nationals — the only other win of the athlete’s career.

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En route to his best-ever competition total, Matthews notched all-time competition PRs on his bench press by 17.5 kilograms (38.6 pounds) and deadlift by five kilograms (11 pounds). He also matched his all-time best on the back squat. To put a cherry on top, Matthews’ DOTS score of 582.79 — the ratio of an athlete’s body weight to the weight they’re lifting — was the highest recorded in the USAPL this year. The athlete had a body weight of 101.4 kilograms (223.5 pounds) at the contest.

Here’s an overview of Matthews’ top stats from the 2022 USAPL Virginia Pro:

Bobb Matthews (105KG) | 2022 USAPL Virginia Pro Top Stats

Squat — 340 kilograms (749.6 pounds) | Equals All-Time Raw Competition Best
Bench Press — 232.5 kilograms (512.6 pounds) | All-Time Raw Competition Best
Deadlift — 380 kilograms (837.8 pounds) | All-Time Raw Competition Best
Total — 952.5 kilograms (2,099.3 pounds) | All-Time Raw Competition Best

Matthews usually competes in the 100-kilogram weight class, but moved up in weight for the 2022 USAPL Virginia Pro. Such a competitive decision had him cross paths with peer Ashton Rouska — one of the more prolific competitors in that division, and who has won noteworthy titles like the 2021 USAPL Raw Nationals. Rouska was the defending Virginia Pro champion in the 105-kilogram category, and Matthews’ recent performance ultimately dethroned him.

That said, Matthews’ PR/winning total at the 2022 edition of the Virginia Pro was actually 2.7 kilograms (6.1 pounds) less than Rouska’s winning total at the 2021 iteration of the Virginia Pro. That suggests this pair of powerlifters could have some neck-and-neck battles in the future.

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In the comments of Matthews’ Instagram post detailing his results, Rouska deferred to the athlete, offering hearty, congratulatory words of praise. At the same time, he looked ahead to when the two might next square off.

“You did well, Bobb, I am so proud of how far you’ve come,” Rouska wrote. “You have a heart of gold and deserve every ounce of success that is coming your way. This 10-year powerlifter won’t just kneel over and let you win the Arnold [2023 Arnold Sports Festival], though. Time to get to work!”

Featured image: @ssjbobb on Instagram

The post Powerlifter Bobb Matthews (105KG) Scores 952.5-Kilogram (2,099.3-Pound) Total, Wins 2022 USAPL Virginia Pro appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Powerlifter Ashton Rouska Logs Bench Press, Squat & Total PRs During Training Session

Robert Zeglinski — Mon, 23 May 2022 20:50:18 +0000

As an officer with the U.S. Army and a current doctoral candidate, Ashton Rouska seems to be a person of many talents. It’s his strength as a powerlifter that recently garnered a lot of attention.

On May 21, 2022, Rouska shared footage of himself squatting 375.1 kilograms (827 pounds) during a training session. Later, he bench-pressed 215.4 kilograms (475 pounds) and deadlifted 381 kilograms (840 pounds), giving him a 971.6-kilogram (2,142-pound) total. Rouska donned a lifting belt and knee sleeves for his squat, and just a belt for his bench press and deadlift.

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A post shared by Ashton Rouska (@some_strongash_guy)

The squat is Rouska’s new PR, exceeding his previous competition best of 370 kilograms (815.7 pounds) from the 2022 USA Powerlifting (USAPL) Arnold A7 Grand Prix. The bench press is a new PR, too, surpassing Rouska’s previous best of 210 kilograms (462.9 pounds) that he set at the 2021 USAPL Virginia Pro. Finally, Rouska even eclipsed his top past raw total of 955 kilograms (2,105.4 pounds), which he also notched at the 2022 USAPL Arnold A7 Grand Prix.

Here are Rouska’s complete stats from this training session:

Ashton Rouska | May 21, 2022 Lift Stats

Squat — 375.1 kilograms (827 pounds) | New PR
Bench Press — 215.4 kilograms (475 pounds) | New PR
Deadlift — 381 kilograms (840 pounds)
Total — 971.6 kilograms (2,142 pounds) | New PR

Notably, the squat and total would’ve also unofficially exceeded the since-defunct USAPL U105-kilogram weight class records — each of which Rouska held. With the USAPL organization officially returning to “old weight classes” at the start of 2022, Rouska will not have an opportunity to break either former U105-kilogram mark at his next competition. That will be the 2022 USAPL Mega Nationals in early June.

All of that said, Rouska capturing three PRs in one fell swoop remains nothing to sneeze at.

Rouska at a Glance

In his near-decade as a competitive powerlifter, Rouska has kept busy. Since Spring 2014, the athlete has participated in 39 separate sanctioned competitions. A prolific and consistent winner, he hasn’t finished in something other than first place since October 2019.

Here’s a rundown of some of Rouska’s more notable career results:

Ashton Rouska | Notable Career Results

2014 USAPL Raw Nationals (Raw) — First place
2014 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Sub-Juniors and Juniors Powerlifting Championships (Single) — First place
2015 USAPL Men’s and Women’s Nationals (Single) — First place
2016 USAPL Raw Nationals (Raw) — First place
2017 USAPL Raw National Championships (Raw) — First place
2019 USAPL Collegiate Nationals (Raw) — First place
2020 North American Powerlifting Federation (NAPF) Arnold Grand Prix by SBD (Raw) — First place
2020 USAPL Virginia Winter Wrecker (Raw) — First place
2021 USAPL Virginia Pro (Raw) — First place
2022 Arnold A7 Grand Prix (Raw) — First place

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A post shared by Ashton Rouska (@some_strongash_guy)

The Mega Nationals Are Next

At the time of this writing, Rouska has not confirmed his weight class for the 2022 USAPL Mega Nationals on June 7-12, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV. His only competition thus far under the new USAPL guidelines — the 2022 USAPL Arnold A7 Grand Prix — was an Open meet, giving him leeway to compete where he pleases.

Rouska did disclose on his Instagram post that he currently weighs 103.4 kilograms (228 pounds). With the Mega Nationals meet so close, if it’s not Open and Rouska plans to compete in the USAPL 100-kilogram weight class, he will have to cut some weight. If not, it appears he will compete in the 110-kilogram weight class. Though, that would be uncharted territory considering Rouska has never competed above 105 kilograms in his career.

Whatever path Rouska takes, he’ll assuredly look to make his mark wherever he can during the meet.

Featured image: @some_strongash_guy on Instagram

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