Murrieta Teen Sets State Junior Squat Record
Avery Trujillo, a 13-year-old from Murrieta, set a California state junior female squat record of 181.9 pounds.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Body Building
Avery Trujillo, a 13-year-old eighth grader at Warm Springs Middle School in Murrieta, set a California state junior female squat record of 181.9 pounds at a USA Powerlifting meet in Moreno Valley. The previous state record in her division for ages 13 to 15 was 159.8 pounds.
Why it matters
The record highlights the growing participation of young athletes in competitive powerlifting in the Murrieta area. Trujillo, who weighs 112 pounds, began lifting at age 12 under the coaching of her parents at Metroflex Gym Murrieta.
Trujillo's 181.9-pound squat exceeds the prior junior female state record of 159.8 pounds for ages 13 to 15, set by an athlete at a 112-pound body weight. Her next targets are a bench press above 99 pounds and a squat above 187 pounds.
The players
Avery Trujillo
A 13-year-old powerlifter and eighth grader at Warm Springs Middle School in Murrieta who began lifting at age 12 and has set a California junior female squat record.
Metroflex Gym Murrieta
A Murrieta gym where Avery Trujillo trains with her parents, Denise Rous and Chad Rous, who serve as her personal trainers.
The details
Trujillo set the record at the USA Powerlifting Tested and Open 2026 Jack O'Lantern Powerlifting Meet in Moreno Valley. She is trained by Denise Rous and Chad Rous, personal trainers at Metroflex Gym Murrieta, and she will compete at a SoCal Powerlifting event in Irvine on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Timeline
Trujillo set the state squat record at the Jack O'Lantern meet on Saturday, Nov. 24.
Trujillo will compete at SoCal Powerlifting in Irvine on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.
Trujillo is targeting records at the 2026 USA Powerlifting Thanksgiving Throwdown.
Season Trajectory
Trujillo's 181.9-pound squat surpasses the prior junior female state mark of 159.8 pounds set within USA Powerlifting's 13-to-15 age class, raising the benchmark for young competitors in the sport. Her stated goals of a 99-pound bench press record and a 187-pound squat would extend that benchmark further in the coming competitive season.
Trujillo's 181.9-pound squat resets the California junior female benchmark, so local readers following youth powerlifting can track her next results at the Irvine meet on Nov. 7. Her attempts at a 99-pound bench press record and a 187-pound squat at the Thanksgiving Throwdown offer specific marks to watch.
The takeaway
Youth athletes can build measurable strength gains through structured coaching and sanctioned competition, as Trujillo's progress from first lifts at age 12 to a state record illustrates. Readers interested in similar training can look to sanctioned USA Powerlifting meets for supervised competitive experience.
What happens next
Trujillo will compete at SoCal Powerlifting in Irvine on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, and will attempt records at the 2026 USA Powerlifting Thanksgiving Throwdown.
Further reading
Explore more Body Building coverage for context on youth strength competition in Murrieta.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Jose Mercury News.
