Six years ago, a boy who had never before held a gun or been exposed to guns picked one up for the first time at the Copley Trap Range. Then Revere eighth grader and future youth state champion trap shooter Sam Scherbakov had no idea at the time that he would consider this experience “one of the main points of [his] life.” Scherbakov shot fifteen of twenty-five targets that day, a score considered average for a new shooter. After that day, Scherbakov decided he wanted to commit his time to competitive shooting. After his father purchased him his first trap gun, Scherbakov shot almost every day, making the Chippewa Trapshooting club four years in a row.

Sam is currently attending the University of Akron, where he plans on starting a University of Akron shooting team. Scherbakov has also been recognized nationally for his accomplishments in trap shooting.
Scherbakov started shooting individually in 2010, and he took first place in his class at a state meet.

“I am nationally ranked. I have shot in many different states including, but not limited to: Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Kentucky, Arizona, Colorado and Texas,” Scherbakov said.
Sam recieved many different scholarships from various gun clubs and shooting organizations and also a scholarship to The University of Akron.

“I applied to the scholarships; they pick the winners based on your shooting averages and on your essays. I got many scholarships, mostly from the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) and the Ohio State Trapshooting Association (OSTA),” Scherbakov said.

Scherbakov also commented on the friendly nature of competitive shooting.

“Competitive shooting is a sport like no other; you meet the nicest people you can possibly imagine. If you show up to an event not knowing how to shoot and not having any equipment… someone will gladly lend you theirs and show you how to shoot,” Scherbakov said.

Scherbakov was first introduced to the world of competitive shooting by his father, Efim Scherbakov. Efim remembers the first time he took Scherbakov to the range.

“I brought him to the range because he showed interest in shooting, and after speaking to the coach and shooting targets, he decided to commit himself to shooting,” Efim said.

When Efim saw his son develop into a nationally ranked shooter, his reaction was very positive.

“I was proud; he always demonstrated respect for gun safety, and it made him a stronger and more disciplined person.” Efim said.

Efim talked about the competitiveness of competition shooting and how it differs from other sports.

“[Trap shooting] is a combination [of an] individual and team sport. It is more individual because you need to be strong, rely on your hand, your eye and your skills,” Efim said.

Sam’s mother, Maya Scherbakov talked about everything she thought trap-shooting gave her son.

“I think shooting gave him great self-confidence, as well as a great respect for weapons and firearm safety. It gave him a lot of experience with people who use weapons, like policemen and agents who carry weapons. He also was very competitive in high school, and he will be friends with [the people he met through trap shooting] for a very long time. After five years of trap shooting, I think it was a very positive thing in his life,” Maya said.

Sam has plans to continue shooting professionally, and is considering the Olympics.

“The Olympics are a real possibility. I am hoping to be on the homeland security shooting team, which is currently the top ranked shooting team in the US,” Scherbakov said.

Efim knows his son will succeed in the future, no matter what he chooses to pursue.

“I admit it is his destiny to help people, and save people and secure people.” Efim said.

From that first encounter with guns and trap shooting, Sam truly believes that “trap shooting has changed [his] life completely.” He plans to continue to shoot competitively with the love and support of his parents, Maya and Efim.