He can’t pinpoint exactly why he loves it. 

Christopher Webster’s passion for shooting is simple: he loves it just because.

“Overall I just enjoy it,” he said. “I enjoy it why I’m out there. It’s like the same reason I enjoy reading. I can’t pinpoint exactly why. I just like it overall.”

Webster doesn’t need to explain why when his performance is doing all the talking. He recently earned the silver metal in the U.S.A Jr. Shooting National Championship in double traps. Currently, he’s ranked No. 2 in the junior division and No. 5 overall.

“It feels pretty good,” Webster said about his recent success on the shooting range. “It’s a payoff of a lot of hard work and practice.”

His recent silver metal win is the culmination of five years of practice. A Bainbridge 2012 graduate, he now puts in a lot of his time studying for a computer science degree at Valdosta. Though schoolwork may be stressful, Webster usually finds his way back to the shooting range.

He still practices at South Georgia Youth Shooting range in Hartsfield, the same place he practiced growing up in Bainbridge. His coach is Mike Simpson, the 2013 U.S.A. shooting coach of the year. Webster refers to the range as “Mike’s place.”

“I usually try to go once a week, just to keep the rust off,” Webster said. “Right now I’m in a bit of a break because the next competition is all the way in October.”

The shoot is all the way in Tillar, Arkansas, but the trip is well worth it. It’s where the team will be chosen for the U.S. at the shooting world cup matches next year.

Webster currently sits at No. 6 in that ranking. The top six will make the team.

Webster figures he’ll probably start practicing in September. Before a big competition, he can be found on the range every single day.

Many athletes enjoy playing sports to clear their head and relieve stress. Webster said shooting certainly doesn’t add stress, but it doesn’t remove it either.

“In order to have a competitive mindset, I definitely have to put stress in my mind over it,” Webster said.

Webster said it could be worse, though.

Many of the parents he sees at competitions are sometimes more passionate about winning than their kids. Webster is thankful his dad, Mike, puts pressure on him, but doesn’t to the point of killing his love for the sport.

“They are really supportive of me,” Webster said about his parents.