With your qualification into the 2026 North American Championship, what would you say has played the biggest role in your success?

My biggest role in my success has been the overall support from my close friends Mark and Dave and the overall support from the Tucson community. Mark and Dave for being my teammates in this adventure and the Tucson community for always being there and cheering me on 😄.

What does your background in trading card games look like and how has it translated into Lorcana?

I have been playing card games since I was 4 years old. I started with Yugioh for a year before being handed Magic Cards and never looked back 😄. I’ve been playing competitive Magic the Gathering for 15 years give or take. I would say all the experience of learning from my losses, how to deck build and how to predict play patterns and habits from Magic have translated greatly to my success in Lorcana so far.

What steps do you take to test and prepare for events both big and small?

For big or small events it’s a lot about making sure you get a lot of reps in with whatever deck you’re taking. Matchup knowledge and comfortability are my main things when it comes to doing well. Just because the “best” deck exists, doesn’t necessarily mean you have to play it. If you know the match up well and know how to beat it and you’re comfortable with the playstyle and deck you choose, you will have good results.

What are some tips you would give to beginners or player looking to level of their game play?

The advice I give to anyone trying to take that next step in there game play is have a solid group around you that shares your interest in doing well and going to the next level. Surround yourself with players that have similar mindsets and that are on similar if not better skill level than you are. Most new/beginner people will not do well at large Regional events like DLCs or CCQ events. That’s fine and you should still go to these events and learn as much as you can. Watch the top tables, watch the pros, see how they play, see how they act. Ask questions whether you win or lose. I promise if you put the work, effort and time in and keep learning you will get better over time and eventually you will be that person at the top tables teaching others one day.

Are there any goals you have towards the end of Lorcana’s 2nd Season and heading into Season 3?

I’m not sure when the season ends per say 😅 but I have the North American Continentals coming up and my goal for that is to make top 8 and qualify for Worlds, but at the very least have a good time in Anaheim with all my friends and have at least a solid finish in the main event.

How does it feel to be double qualified with North American and European Championship invites?

This feeling is incredible. I have achieved one of my goals by re-qualifying for NA Continentals and am one step closer to my goal of qualifying for the World Championship. Additionally, I get to go with Aimee (wife) to Disneyland Paris and cross off one of our bucket list items!

You are the first and only Golden Mickey Winner for Arizona, what would you attribute your success to?

I think just putting in the hours of practice. I love this game, so practicing never really feels like a chore. A huge part of that is my best friends/teammates- Jeo, Michelle, Tony, and Big Mikey. When you’ve got great friends to travel with and practice with, it makes everything better. I don’t think I would have anywhere near the amount of success I’ve had without them.

What does your preparation look like heading into larger Lorcana tournaments and events?

My prep consists of online gameplay, in person testing sessions at the McGowan house/Tony’s kitchen table, and gameplay review. If the format is new, I will try to familiarize myself with the top decks by playing 10-20 matches with each. Once I have narrowed my choices down, I try to get as many matches in as possible. With limited time, I shoot for 100 matches, and I generally feel that plus gameplay review gives me a solid understanding of my deck and its game plan.

What is a bit of advice you would give to players looking to progress to the next level?

Outside of more reps, I would suggest they watch replays of their games back (both wins and losses). I feel people would be surprised at how differently you view the game from the outside looking in. Different play lines present themselves, and so do all of the mistakes you made.

Congratulations on all your success in Season 2 of Disney Lorcana’s competitive circuit! We will be cheering you on at both the North American and European Championships later this year!

What decks have you used during your championship runs?

Yurple raging storm for the first week – blue steel allies for the second week

You are currently on a 24 match Set Championship win streak, what would you attribute your success to?

Practice and a good team – its not just about getting reps its about getting quality reps – one game against Andy is worth ten games against an average opponent

What are your goals for the remainder of 2026?

I want to qualify for continentals I have an opportunity to qualify for both Asia and North America so my goal is to do both