Matthews earned a big-time win and hit PRs with strength to spare.
Before 2022, Bobb Matthews might need been an ascending star, but he could never quite break through on a sanctioned lifting platform. Except for some solid podium finishes, he was awaiting his turn to shine within the highlight. In what was likely his last competitive appearance of the 2022 calendar 12 months, Matthews got here, 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 twenty-two.2 kilograms (49 kilos). Perhaps not by coincidence, Matthews’ past PR total of 930 kilograms (2,050.3 kilos) occurred on the 2022 USAPL Mega Nationals — the one other win of the athlete’s profession.
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En path to his best-ever competition total, Matthews notched all-time competition PRs on his bench press by 17.5 kilograms (38.6 kilos) and deadlift by five kilograms (11 kilos). He also matched his all-time best on the back squat. To place a cherry on top, Matthews’ DOTS rating of 582.79 — the ratio of an athlete’s body weight to the load they’re lifting — was the best recorded within the USAPL this 12 months. The athlete had a body weight of 101.4 kilograms (223.5 kilos) at the competition.
Here’s an outline of Matthews’ top stats from the 2022 USAPL Virginia Pro:
Bobb Matthews (105KG) | 2022 USAPL Virginia Pro Top Stats
- Squat — 340 kilograms (749.6 kilos) | Equals All-Time Raw Competition Best
- Bench Press — 232.5 kilograms (512.6 kilos) | All-Time Raw Competition Best
- Deadlift — 380 kilograms (837.8 kilos) | All-Time Raw Competition Best
- Total — 952.5 kilograms (2,099.3 kilos) | All-Time Raw Competition Best
Matthews often competes within 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 in all the more prolific competitors in that division, and who has won noteworthy titles just like the 2021 USAPL Raw Nationals. Rouska was the defending Virginia Pro champion within the 105-kilogram category, and Matthews’ recent performance ultimately dethroned him.
That said, Matthews’ PR/winning total on the 2022 edition of the Virginia Pro was actually 2.7 kilograms (6.1 kilos) lower than Rouska’s winning total on the 2021 iteration of the Virginia Pro. That means this pair of powerlifters could have some neck-and-neck battles in the longer term.
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Within the comments of Matthews’ Instagram post detailing his results, Rouska deferred to the athlete, offering hearty, congratulatory words of praise. At the identical time, he looked ahead to when the 2 might next square off.
“You probably did well, Bobb, I’m so pleased with how far you’ve come,” Rouska wrote. “You might have a heart of gold and deserve every ounce of success that’s coming your way. This 10-year powerlifter won’t just kneel over and allow you to win the Arnold [2023 Arnold Sports Festival], though. Time to get to work!”
Featured image: @ssjbobb on Instagram