Prolific powerlifter Ashton Rouska set a new American raw squat record at the newly sanctioned USAPL Grand Prix that was featured at the 2022 Arnold Sports Festival. Rouska competing in the 105kg weight class, set a new American raw squat record of 370kg (815.7lbs). Let’s have a look at his record-setting performance below.
Ashton Rouska's American Raw Squat Record
Rouska’s 370kg raw squat broke his own previous record of 367.5kg that he set last year at the 2021 USAPL Virginia Pro. Rouska weighed in at 103.79kg and dominated his weight class. Rouska started with a 325kg (716.5lbs) squat; then he moved to 355kg(782.6lbs). With his first two lifts, he looked confident to try to set the record with his third attempt. In his last lift, Rouska squatted 370kg (815.7lbs), we think he will be breaking this new record at some point this year. He said it felt great!
Rouska completed 7 of 8 total attempts as he chose to only try deadlifting twice. Rouska’s performance beat out the runner-up Jon Gruden by over 23 points in the DOTS (Dynamic Objective Team Scoring System). DOTS allows for scoring and ranking athletes across weight classes within the same gender.
Check out the record-setting lift below!
Here’s a look at Rouska’s gold medal performance at the 2022 Arnold Sports Festival Grand Prix:
Squat
- 325 kilograms (716.5 pounds)
- 355 kilograms (782.6 pounds)
- 370 kilograms (815.7 pounds) New American Record @ 105kg
Bench Press
- 195 kilograms (429.9 pounds)
- 205 kilograms (452 pounds)
- 210 kilograms (463 pounds) *Unsuccessful*
Deadlift
- 335 kilograms (738.6 pounds)
- 380 kilograms (837.8 pounds)
- No attempt
Total: 955 kilograms (2,105.4 pounds)
DOTS: 578.677
Rouska’s performance moved him into the 105kg weight class’ second place all-time. First place is held by Cailer Woolam, who totaled 962.5kgs (2,122lbs) at the 2019 SPF Slingshot Record Breakers.
WHO IS ASHTON ROUSKA?
Ashton Rouska started lifting on his 13th birthday and started his weightlifting journey for football to get bigger/stronger. Rouska grew up in different parts of the world, including South Korea and Alaska, as his father served in the US Army.
Rouska has followed in those footsteps and is an Army medical service officer. He’s currently studying to become a military clinical psychologist at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences.
By the time he entered his first USAPL meet in Anchorage, Alaska, he had won it and deadlifted over 540lbs at 15 years old. Winning this meet gave Rouska the confidence that he's carried on since then.
At only 24 years old now, he’s won his last 12 competitions consecutively with only a few losses in the over 50 sanctioned meets that he's competed in. Rouska is at the top of the sport and continues to dominate; he continues to increase his lifts and his weight, so we think at some point he’ll hit the 1000kg club.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Ashton Rouska is a unique talent that never fails to impress. The next massive event Rouska is planning to compete in is the 2022 USAPL Raw Nationals that’s slated to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 6th, 2022.
Do you think Rouska can outdo himself once again by setting a new record?
Kiel DiGiovanni
Author