WENDELL CHERRY: More Than a Champion, More Than a Coach

At The Champions Network, we believe that what makes sporting clays truly captivating isn’t just the competition, the wins and losses, or the highlight reels of perfectly executed shots. It’s the people — the stories, the struggles, the philosophies, and the deeply personal journeys that have shaped the legends of this sport. It’s about pulling back the curtain, sitting down with the giants of the game, and understanding them as human beings rather than just champions. That’s why this conversation with Wendell Cherry mattered.

When I set out to interview Wendell, my goal wasn’t to talk about mechanics or technique. The shooting world has heard that before. Instead, I wanted to create something different — something deeper. I wanted to sit across from one of the most influential minds in sporting clays and not just ask him questions, but truly understand him. Who he is, how he thinks, and why he sees the game the way he does.

For those who have followed Wendell’s career, it’s easy to see the competitor. The man who has won more than most could dream of. The coach who has shaped champions. But what’s more fascinating to me is who he is beyond the titles — his relationship with pressure, with failure, with the ever-evolving pursuit of mastery.

A Conversation, Not Just an Interview

One of the things we pride ourselves on at TCN is the ability to create space for conversations that feel real, raw, and honest. This wasn’t about following a script. It was about allowing Wendell to be vulnerable, reflective, and unfiltered in a way that few ever get to see.

This conversation took us into Wendell’s mindset as a competitor — why, even after all he’s accomplished, he still wakes up feeling like he has to prove himself all over again. We talked about his philosophy on failure, why he doesn’t see losses as true defeats, and why he believes so many shooters limit themselves not because of talent, but because of fear.

And then, we took a turn that I don’t think even Wendell expected.

He picked up a guitar.

Because for Wendell, shooting isn’t just about breaking targets. It’s music. It’s rhythm. It’s flow. The same way a musician connects with their instrument, he connects with his gun. And just like in music, the best shooters don’t force their movements — they find the groove, they surrender to the process, and they allow the game to unfold.

The Heart of the Sport

At TCN, this is what we believe makes sporting clays so engaging—not just the tournaments, not just the footage of broken targets, but the human element. The stories that make these athletes who they are. The way we can sit down with icons of the sport and, by the end of the conversation, make viewers feel like they truly know them.

Wendell Cherry isn’t just a shooter. He’s a thinker. A philosopher. A competitor who is still evolving. A teacher who understands that the greatest victories aren’t always the ones recorded on a scoresheet, but the ones that shape the next generation.

This conversation was about more than shooting. It was about life. And that’s why it mattered.

Watch the full interview now.

I hope you enjoy this.

David Radulovich