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Student Spotlight: Colton Doll – Paintballer and Apex Learning Virtual School Student
When it comes to balancing academics and passion, Colton Doll is a standout example. A senior at Apex Learning Virtual School (ALVS) and a semi-professional paintball player for Team USA, Colton has found his path to pursue his dreams without compromising his education.
Located in Central Ohio, Colton discovered paintball at age 11. Today, he travels across the country with his team, preparing for competitive tournaments, including the prestigious World Cup of Paintball.
With a nontraditional schedule that includes constant travel and training, Colton has been able to excel both academically and athletically thanks to the flexibility of ALVS’ full-time online program.
“If I wanted to be at the level that I wanted to be at, I wouldn’t be able to do that without being able to be on ALVS,” Colton said.
ALVS’ online program allows him to keep up with his studies from anywhere, whether he’s at home or on the road for tournaments.
Colton’s mother, Amy Doll, commented, “Being able to have the option to do ALVS is so huge. It’s such a huge advantage.”
From the beginning, Colton knew he wanted to pursue paintball—especially after competing on the pro field at just 11 years old at the end of his very first World Cup, an achievement that many adult players strive for but rarely reach.
“Some people never do it in their whole paintball career,” Colton explained.
Inspired by his father’s experience with the sport, Colton quickly immersed himself in the world of competitive paintball, and his skills attracted the attention of top pros, including Marcello Margott, one of the best in the sport, who became Colton’s coach and mentor.
Colton has been competing in national tournaments and spending over 30 weekends a year training with his semi-pro team, traveling nearly every month to practice or compete. Colton even traveled to France in September, which was his third time that he's competed for Team USA internationally.
However, balancing schoolwork was a real challenge until ALVS came into the picture.
Amy reported, “We want him to get a good education, but also these lifetime experiences he was getting for traveling for paintball—we didn't want to pass those up.”
For a student-athlete like Colton, the flexible pacing ALVS offers is essential. Colton’s team practices over 30 weekends out of the year, and competitions can require days of travel and long hours. Traditional school schedules made it difficult for him to balance his commitment to paintball and his studies, as he would often miss class in order to travel to competitions and had to catch up on assignments.
Amy described that after all the traveling, “He'd be so exhausted by the time we got home; he just couldn't possibly go to school in person on a Monday and be able to do well.”
With ALVS, Colton can set his own study hours around his paintball schedule, making it possible for him to travel for competitions and keep up with schoolwork at the same time.
“It allows me to balance them out throughout the day,” Colton stated. “I can practice paintball and then do schoolwork and then practice paintball again.”
This flexibility allows Colton to build his academic and athletic skills no matter where he travels. The online program enables him to complete assignments whenever he has the time—even if that means logging on late at night after a full day of practice.
Amy remarked, “Once we figured out that the teachers were going to be accommodating with his schedule and his anxiety level about not being able to get things done certain times, it just became an easy option for us to be able to switch over and do online school full-time.”
With this structure, Colton can focus on his sport without putting his academic future at risk.
The support that ALVS provides has been invaluable to Colton’s academic journey. With access to dedicated teachers, Success Coaches, and guidance counselors, he has a support network that’s tailored to help him succeed.
Colton noted, “The teachers are all really cool. It just feels like they're always right there to help if you ever need anything.”
Amy added, “It takes away a lot of the anxiety. He can reach out directly to the teachers, and they get right back to him.”
With ALVS, Colton has been able to handle the demands of his paintball schedule without the added stress of navigating a strict school structure. The program allows both him and his family to feel confident that he’s receiving a high-quality education while following his dreams.
With graduation approaching, Colton is excited to take the next steps in his paintball career. His ultimate goal is to go fully professional in paintball, continuing to represent Team USA and compete on an international level.
Colton is in the beginning stages of offering coaching services to other paintball teams and organizing future clinics that would be accessible for younger and newer players to come in and learn more about the sport.
Reflecting on Colton’s experience with ALVS, Amy shared advice for others considering a similar path: “If you're really serious and wanting to pursue your sport or your passion, whatever drives you, to definitely sign up and do ALVS because I think it just adds a level of flexibility you just can't get with a regular traditional school.”
Colton’s journey exemplifies the ALVS philosophy: Students can follow their dreams and stay on track academically. With ALVS, students have the freedom to shape their own path and pursue their passions without compromising their academics.
Learn more about Apex Learning Virtual School's accredited, full-time virtual school program that empowers students to thrive outside of the traditional classroom and earn their high school diploma.
