Lewis & Clark College Launches Annual Squatober Challenge

The Portland college weight room is hosting daily squat sessions to build community and fitness for students.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Body Building

Expressive editorial sports illustration of an athlete mid-squat with a barbell, capturing the motion and discipline of strength training. — Lewis & Clark College’s strength and conditioning program continues its annual Squatober challenge in Portland, encouraging students to build consistent fitness habits. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you find that participating in month-long fitness challenges helps you maintain a regular workout routine?

Head strength and conditioning coach Angela Dendas-Pleasant is leading the annual Squatober program at Lewis & Clark College. The initiative features daily whiteboard challenges that encourage students of all fitness levels to participate in a structured squat routine.

Why it matters

Squatober provides a accessible entry point for athletes to establish a consistent workout habit. By focusing on the back squat, participants engage multiple muscle groups across the legs, shoulders, arms, and back in a single full-body workout.

Coach Angela Dendas-Pleasant has directed training programs at the institution for 13 years since arriving in 2013. The global program currently maintains a reach of 134,000 followers on social media.

The players

Angela Dendas-Pleasant

She has served as the head strength and conditioning coach at Lewis & Clark College since 2013.

Aaron Ausmus

He is one of the co-creators of the Squatober training challenge.

Bert Sorinex

He co-created the Squatober fitness program alongside Aaron Ausmus.

Henry Milo Steinborn

He was an influential figure who popularized the flat-footed back squat in the United States during the 1920s.

Lewis & Clark College

This is an educational institution located in Portland that hosts the annual weight room event.

The details

The program utilizes a variety of squat forms, including Bulgarian split squats and front squats, to challenge participants. Coaches require athletes to stabilize a weighted bar on their shoulders to ensure engagement of the core muscles throughout the movement.

Modern back squat techniques originated in 19th-century Europe.
Henry Milo Steinborn arrived in the United States in 1921.
The Flat-Footed Revolution evolved squat technique throughout the 1920s.
Angela Dendas-Pleasant began her tenure at Lewis & Clark in 2013.
The current Squatober challenge takes place throughout October 2026.

Season Trajectory

The Squatober challenge follows the foundational technical standards established during the Flat-Footed Revolution of the 1920s. It updates the legacy of that historical movement by translating complex strength techniques into a daily collegiate routine.

Participants at Lewis & Clark College will complete daily squat cycles Monday through Saturday throughout the month. Athletes must incorporate rest days on Sundays to properly facilitate muscle recovery and progress through the month-long program.

The takeaway

Engaging in structured month-long challenges like Squatober can help individuals build consistency in their physical training. Students should focus on form and recovery to ensure they safely manage the volume of squats required throughout the program.