Wendell Cherry: The Tiger Woods of Sporting Clays

Ever so rarely, a competitor appears within a sport and raises the performance bar to new heights. The shooting sports are certainly no different. Today, the discipline of sporting clays is witness to an exciting new champion whose skill is winning major tournaments at a blistering pace. The shooter is Tennessee’s own - Wendell Cherry.

Doubters only have to review the list of Wendell’s recent achievements and wins to become convinced.

• 2003 US Open Champion
• 2003 Team USA Sporting
• 2003 Team USA FITASC
• 2003 All-American Team Member
• 2003 World Championships - Team Gold Medal
• 2003 Angle Port Open HOA
• 2003 Kruger Cup HOA
• 2003 Homestead Cup Sporting RU
• 2003 Homestead Cup FITASC HOA
• 2002 NSCA National Championship - RU
• Four time TN State Champion
• National FITASC Championships - RU
• Beretta World Cup - RU
• Great American - RU
• Pan American World Cup FITASC - RU
• Pan American World Cup Individual Silver Medal
• Pan American World Cup Team USA Gold Medal
• World Open FITASC World Championships - M2
• National Pro-Am FITASC Champion
• 2000 Pan Am/Beretta World Cup R. U.
• 2001 Seminole Cup Pre-Lim R.U.
• 2001 Boomer Esiason Nat’l Pro-Am Champion
• 2001 Big Kahuna Pre-Lim Champion
• 2001 TM Ranch Open FITASC Champion
• 2002 Seminole Cup FITASC R.U.
• 2002 Browning/Briley World Open 5-stand Champion
• SCA Pro-Staff Instructor
• 1999 SCA National Champion
• Three time SCA All-American
• 2000 SCA All-American Team Captain
• Zone 3 FITASC Champion
• Zone 3 Sporting RU

It seems fate introduced Wendell to sporting clays. One day, while returning home from a bird hunt, Wendell discovered a sporting clays course. After shooting a round, he was hooked and became determined to master the sport. Wendell sought instruction from many of the best instructors in sporting clays. He blended the best methods for specific shooting situations from each instructor to develop his own style and approach.

Wendell’s consistency in competition is a direct result of a very disciplined practice regiment. Wendell developed a system for practice that he calls the “grid”. The grid requires a shooter to break 10 targets in a row at each distance of 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards. Miss one target at any distance and the shooter starts over at 20 yards. Wendell states that the grid is all work and little fun. It burns into the shooters mind the sight picture at specific distances. Also, Wendell believes that shooter confidence is necessary to win in competition, and the grid is the best method of building that confidence.

But winning tournaments requires more than many hours of practice. It also requires a very supportive wife. “I am very proud of him,” says Anne Cherry, who handles much of the business and scheduling. “Success never comes easy, but Wendell has worked so very hard. He definitely earned his success.”

Today, Wendell is arguably the most in-demand shooting instructor in the country. “We are lucky to have Wendell providing some instruction at the Tennessee Clay Target Complex,” says TCTC manager Chad Williams. “His schedule only allows him to teach here a day or two per month and slots fill up very fast. Anyone wanting to take a lesson should call early.”

Wendell and Anne can be reached at (931)258-3707 or by email at .

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