I remember watching my USPSA and International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) heroes win world championships when I was 13 years old. I was completely enamored with the image of them standing on top the podium, medals around their necks, a trophy raised overhead and wrapped in the American flag, while the national anthem played after five grueling days of competition against the world’s best shooters.
Years later, after winning my first USPSA National Championship, I lay in my fraternity bunk bed dreaming of what it would feel like to experience that moment myself. Through deliberate action, constant refinement of my craft and years of battling my way to the top of U.S. Nationals, that dream became reality when I won gold and became World Champion at the 2022 IPSC World Championship in Thailand.
Not long after that match concluded, we learned that the next World Shoot would be held in South Africa in September of 2025, and the celebration quickly turned into preparation.
For those unfamiliar with the IPSC Handgun World Championship, it is the pinnacle of our sport. Every three (now four) years, IPSC brings the global shooting community together in a new host country to determine the world's best shooters.
Each country has its own qualification process. In the United States, shooters qualify based on their best three of four scores across two Nationals and the IPSC Nationals Qualifier. From there, Team USA is selected across divisions and categories with one unified objective: to bring home gold. In 2025, Team USA sent a deep and talented delegation representing our country at the highest level.
Traveling internationally with firearms was a new experience for many competitors. USPSA IPSC Regional Director Leighton Oosthuisen, assisted by Jim Boone and USPSA staff, hosted preparation calls to walk the team through the permitting and transportation process.
Though there were challenges, including an ammunition pallet that, due to policy and logistical issues beyond our control, didn’t arrive, and a few permitting hiccups, the system largely worked. Most competitors arrived early to train at reserved practice bays. In the days leading up to the match, everyone completed equipment checks, where guns, belts and holsters were meticulously inspected before the competition could begin.
The IPSC World Shoot officially starts with the Parade of Nations during the opening ceremony. More than 1,600 competitors from over 80 countries marched into the stadium behind their flags, welcomed by IPSC officials and cultural performances from host country South Africa.
Team USA held a delegation dinner the night before the match, with speeches from leaders and competitors to rally the group. I was honored to be selected to carry the U.S. flag for the opening ceremony, and I chose JJ Racaza to share the honor by carrying the other side. We arrived early to allow plenty of time to meet people and take pictures with them, which was a great opportunity to connect with competitors from around the world. The atmosphere was electric, but the drive home was quieter. Competition was about to begin.
The match consisted of 30 stages over five shooting days, with one rest day—a true marathon with daily sprints. Team USA opened the competition with staggered starts. The Open Division began at 6:30 a.m., shooting six stages on day one.
Stage design tested every imaginable skill: open targets, partials, no-shoots, steel, mini poppers, sliders, swingers, bobbers, prone shooting, strong- and weak-hand stages, kneeling and technical movement above and beyond the standard balance between speed and accuracy.
Team USA performed exceptionally across all divisions. Our Open Team consisted of Bryan Jones, Aaron Eddins, John Vlieger and me. We worked together constantly, breaking down stages, keeping energy high and leaning on our families and supporters who watched gear, proxy-checked targets, reminded us to hydrate and filmed runs, among other things. It was a complete team effort, embodying what made this Team USA delegation special.
After six demanding days, the scores were finalized. I was fortunate to finish with a decisive 136-point margin, helping the Open team secure gold as well. Team USA delivered major podium finishes across several divisions and categories.
2025 IPSC World Shoot — Team USA Results
Open Division
Gold
- Christian Sailer — Open
- Joseph Dragi — Super Senior
- Team USA Open — Christian Sailer, Bryan Jones, John Vlieger, Aaron Eddins
- Team USA Senior Open — Henning Wallgren, Shannon Smith, Lee Nuguit, Joseph Draghi
- Team USA Open Super Senior — Frank Garcia, Leighton Oosthuisen, Manuel Rodero, James Boone
Silver
- Michael Hwang — Open
- Bryan Jones — Open
- Frank Garcia — Super Senior
- Team USA Open Ladies — Meghan Smiley, Anna McCarthy, Lynda Turnbull, Jessica Jonasson
Bronze
- Henning Wallgren — Senior
- Leighton Oosthuisen — Super Senior
Production Optics Division
Gold
- Justine Williams — Lady
- Team USA Production Optics Ladies — Justine Williams, Brennah Gaston, Kaylee Lane, Nicole Kolba
Silver
- Team USA Production Optics — Jacob Hetherington, Jay Beal, JJ Racaza
Bronze
- Jacob Hetherington — Overall
- Team USA Production Optics Senior — David Murphy, Ben Hardt, Samir Patel, Zuoming Zheng
Production Division
Gold
- Mason Lane — Overall
Silver
- Carina Randolph — Lady Senior
- Team USA Production — Mason Lane, Nils Jonasson, Sal Luna, Casey Reed
Standard Division
Silver
- Team USA Standard — Scott Brown, Gianni Giordano, Joseph Sauerland, Robert Krogh
Bronze
- Scott Brown — Overall
Classic Division
Gold
- Jalise Williams — Lady
- Team USA Classic — Jeffrey Cawthon, Jeremy Reid, Tim Herron, Jalise Williams
Silver
- Jeffrey Cawthon — Overall
Revolver Division
Gold
- Michael Poggie — Overall
- Team USA Revolver — Michael Poggie, Rich Wolfe, Jay Slater, Alex Bakken
Silver
- Rich Wolfe — Overall
Bronze
- Jay Slater — Overall
Hunter Constantine, the owner of the Constantine Carry Belt, captured the journey in a long-form film produced by John Gatoose of Evoque Digital Solutions, documenting many of the top athletes and the overall experience of the match. Be sure to check out his YouTube channel.
The championship concluded with the entire stadium watching the traditional shoot-off, a head-to-head falling plates competition. That evening, the awards ceremony celebrated champions from around the world at the conclusion of an unforgettable World Championship week.
After the match, many competitors stayed to explore South Africa further, from safaris to sightseeing. Some even held Bullet, a baby lion born during the World Shoot.
The IPSC World Championship is more than a competition. It is a reminder that our sport transcends borders, languages and divisions. We watched Team USA come together, supporting each other, pushing through adversity and representing our country with professionalism and heart. This wasn’t about one individual or any one shooter. It was about a team, a delegation and a shared pursuit of the highest standard in practical shooting.
Article from the January/February 2026 issue of USPSA’s magazine.
