why burn the boats?
Burn the Boats Strongman & Powerlifting was founded in 2023 on a simple philosophy: commitment without retreat.
The phrase "burn the boats" originates from the legendary military strategy of destroying the ships that brought soldiers to battle, eliminating any possibility of turning back. The message was clear—victory was the only option.
At Burn the Boats, that mindset extends far beyond the platform. Whether you're preparing for your first competition, chasing a personal record, rebuilding after a setback, or pursuing excellence in everyday life, success requires complete commitment. We believe growth happens when excuses are removed, accountability is embraced, and the focus shifts from what could happen to what will happen.
Our mission is to build stronger athletes, stronger minds, and a stronger community through the sports of strongman and powerlifting.
Roy orrantia
co-owner | Head Coach | professional strength athlete
Roy Orrantia is one of Arizona's most accomplished strength athletes and a respected leader within the strongman community. A three-time Arizona's Strongest Man champion and the 2025 Arnold Pro-Am Strongman Champion, Roy has built a reputation through years of elite-level competition, relentless work ethic, and dedication to developing athletes of all experience levels.
Roy currently holds the Static Monsters World Record Total and Static Monsters World Record Deadlift. Known for his exceptional pulling strength, Roy has deadlifted over 1,000 pounds and bench presses over 500 pounds, placing him among an elite group of strength athletes worldwide.
As co-owner of Burn the Boats, Roy brings firsthand knowledge of what it takes to compete at the highest levels of strength sports. His coaching philosophy emphasizes technical excellence, consistency, and the mental toughness required to perform when it matters most. Whether working with first-time competitors or seasoned athletes, Roy is committed to helping individuals unlock their full potential and achieve goals they once thought impossible.
View Roy’s Instagram @roy_gains
Dr. Colleen Meredith, phd
co-owner | performance psychologist | professional strength athlete
Dr. Colleen Meredith combines elite athletic achievement with expertise in performance psychology, creating a unique approach to athlete development that addresses both physical and mental performance.
As a professional strongman competitor, powerlifter, World's Strongest Woman competitor, Team USA Powerlifting World Champion, and world record holder, Colleen understands firsthand the demands of competing on the world's biggest stages. Her accomplishments extend beyond competition into research, psychology, and human performance, where she specializes in helping individuals develop resilience, confidence, focus, and peak performance under pressure.
Dr. Meredith's philosophy is that strength is built from the inside out. By integrating evidence-based performance psychology with elite-level strength training principles, she helps athletes overcome mental barriers, manage competition stress, and develop the mindset necessary for long-term success. Her goal is to empower every athlete who walks through the doors of Burn the Boats to become stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally.
View Colleen’s Instagram @dr.leenmachine.20
mitchell rocha
co-owner | performance coach | athlete manager
Mitch's journey back to strength training began after a major health scare four years ago. After nearly 18 years away from the gym, he was convinced by his son, Miguel, to become his training partner. What started as a favor quickly reignited a passion that had been missing for nearly two decades.
Training with Miguel at 5 a.m. throughout his senior year of high school remains one of Mitch's most treasured memories. Sharing his knowledge helped Miguel grow as a lifter while inspiring Mitch to pursue his own goals of building strength and improving his physique.
Today, Mitch serves as Co-Owner of Burn the Boats Strength, where he helps athletes develop confidence, strength, and long-term success both in and out of competition. As a Performance Coach and Athlete Manager, he is passionate about mentoring athletes and supporting them throughout their lifting journey.
Outside the gym, Mitch enjoys fantasy and science fiction novels, as well as action role-playing games like Diablo and Path of Exile. His philosophy is simple: it's never too late to start again, and strength has the power to change lives.
View Mitch’s Instagram @mitch_rocha_82
bradley Lechner
btb athlete | apf national powerlifting champion
Bradley Lechner has always been athletic and played plenty of sports as a kid but as he got older he felt he wanted to do more… that’s when he found power lifting. He started lifting back in 2020 just as a past time after work and he fell in love with lifting those heavy circles. As he continued getting more invested in the world of weight lifting he grew bound and determined to push his body past human endeavor.
He met Roy and Colleen and they introduced him to competitive power lifting. They saw Bradley’s intense potential and knew they had to get him into their training program. Brad also met Mitch and Miguel at this time and experienced his first power lifting competition when he went to cheer on Miguel. That ignited a fire in him and he started training with Burn the Boats immediately.
Bradley’s drive and passion extends beyond the gym into his professional and personal life as well. He is a Civil Construction Superintendent with several years of experience operating heavy equipment at multiple companies in Northern Arizona. When he’s not operating heavy equipment or lifting heavy circles, Brad spends his down time either renovating his house with his fiancé, or figuring out new ways to add more horsepower to his trucks. As the great Ken Block says: “If you’re not scared, you’re not going fast enough!” Bradley gets his intense work ethic and drive to push forward from his dad who taught him from a young age that nothing in life is given to you for free and if you want it then you better roll up your sleeves, put in the work, and go get it!
Bradley not only brings his intense drive, determination, and “never quit” mentality to the team, but he also brings the laughs. Between his quick witted sarcastic comments, uncanny ability to do any impression you ask, or his hilarious white boy dance moves, he is always making us laugh and keeps our spirits up. Bradley has won two first place power lifting medals and has become a National Power Lifting Champion since joining BTB… we’re on to the worlds competition next and we cannot wait to see what he is going to accomplish there!
Miguel Rocha
btb athlete | apf national powerlifting champion
At just 18 years old, Miguel Rocha has already built a reputation for relentless work ethic and dedication to strength sports. While his lifting journey began as a freshman training for football and chasing the title of strongest kid in school, everything changed during his junior year when he committed himself to powerlifting.
Long before most people are awake, Miguel is already in the gym. Countless 4:30 a.m. training sessions taught him that true strength is built through discipline, consistency, and proper technique—not ego. Since then, he has continued to set ambitious goals and work tirelessly to achieve them.
Family is at the center of Miguel’s life, and one of his biggest motivations is simple: to become the strongest member of his family. Looking ahead, he hopes to gain enough recognition in the strength community to open his own gym and help others pursue their own goals. After powerlifting, he plans to transition into competitive bodybuilding.
When he’s not training, Miguel enjoys golf, gaming, drinking strawberry milk, spending time with his cat Sensei, and reminding everyone that he’s actually Superman.
View Miguel’s Instagram @m.a.r_lifts
Contact us
Ready to take the next step in your strength journey?
Whether you're looking for personalized powerlifting coaching, strongman programming, competition prep, performance psychology services, or simply have questions about Burn the Boats, we're here to help.
At Burn the Boats, we believe success comes from commitment, accountability, and doing the work when no one is watching. No matter where you are in your journey—from first-time competitor to elite athlete—we'll help you build a plan that gets results.
Reach out today and let's discuss your goals, answer your questions, and determine the best path forward.
No excuses. No backup plan. Burn the Boats.
Competing at this level requires significant travel expenses, including airfare, lodging, transportation, competition fees, and team costs. As athletes from a small-town gym in Williams, Arizona, we're asking our community to help make this dream possible.
Every donation, no matter the amount, directly supports their journey to compete against the strongest athletes in the world.
Together, we can help these athletes proudly represent Arizona, their community, and the United States on the world stage.