8 QUESTIONS WITH RMU TOP LANER DEREK “WEST COAST CARRY” MICHEAU
Quest Gaming recently announced a partnership with Robert Morris University’s collegiate esports program. Our first piece of content in conjunction with the top tier program is the below interview with League of Legends player Derek “West Coast Carry” Micheau. We spoke with Derek about his competitive gaming background, what life as a collegiate esport athlete is like, and how he hopes to bring an emphasis on fitness to RMU’s gaming program.
NAME: Derek “West Coast Carry” Micheau
AGE: 22
MAJOR: Business with concentration in marketing.
FROM: Washington State
GAME: League of Legends
POSITION: Top Laner
WHEN DID YOU START PLAYING LEAGUE?
I got into League back when it was in open beta and have been playing it since. I wanted to be just like my brother and all of his friends that were playing so I played constantly, probably 3 times as much as them, just trying to be the best that I could.
WHAT DOES YOUR TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE?
I have class from 8am until noon or 8 am until 2 pm depending on the day, and then I’ll usually get a 30 minute break for lunch before we head into practice. We’ll usually practice from 2pm until 9 pm during the week, which is really demanding but being so busy and always having something to do is actually really good for keeping you focused.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO DO AFTER COLLEGE?
I am going to pursue a Master’s Degree – it’s always been my dream. I sputtered in high school attempting to go pro for a little while, but coming to RMU helped me get centered and focus back on what I want to do with my life. I realized my passion for marketing — being able to value a product and sell it to the general public — so that’s kind of been my drive.
WHO DOES THE RMU LEAGUE OF LEGENDS TEAM SCRIM AGAINST?
We play other college teams, Challenger teams, and some pro teams from other regions. Most of the college teams weren’t really teaching us a lot because we were beating them so badly so we mostly play middle tier challenger teams. I think we played a couple of LCS teams for scrims but it was mostly the challenger squads in North America and the professional teams in Mexico.
DO YOU DO ANYTHING SPECIAL TO PREP ON GAME DAY?
I’m a big believer in routine, and for me it’s important to do the same thing each time you can. When we were at finals last year, I made it a pretty big priority to go to a gym there so that I could get a workout in beforehand to keep a consistent routine. Keeping a routine, eating the same thing, working out, and running through the same schedule is important to staying focused.
WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THE RMU LEAGUE OF LEGENDS TEAM THIS YEAR?
As a team we want to get 1st place. There are high expectations for RMU and I really think that it’s about time we show that all of the investment into our program has paid off. It’s on us as players to deliver that.
HOW DOES FITNESS AND NUTRITION PLAY A ROLE WITHIN THE RMU ESPORT PROGRAM?
I’ve figured out that keeping a healthy body creates a healthy atmosphere while playing games and I think that there’s a huge correlation between positive physical fitness and gameplay. I’ve never felt better playing the game then after having a good meal and a good workout beforehand. It keeps my mind focused and I think that it’s really something that we need to strive towards regimenting. I really like that these fitness elements are being added into the program and am really excited to be a part of it.
FAVORITE QUEST PRODUCT?
White Chocolate Raspberry Quest Bar
Thank you so much to Derek “West Coast Carry” Micheau for taking the time to speak with us. You can follow his RMU journey on Twitter.
