December 1, 2025
Mount Dora Senior Excels in Wrestling, Agriculture and Community Leadership
By Kyle Coppola
Mount Dora Senior Excels in Wrestling, Agriculture and Community Leadership
Colton Fickett
Sports is a family tradition, personal challenge and way of life for Mount Dora High School senior wrestler Colton Fickett.
Colton says he immediately felt a connection to wrestling when he was introduced to the sport in third grade by a friend who suggested he give it a try.
“I liked it because it’s one of the hardest sports out there and I like pushing myself,” Colton says. “It’s one of the only sports where it’s just you. There’s no team, it’s you against the person across from you. The adrenaline rush you get when you’re out there, knowing you can control what happens, that’s what I enjoy about it.”
Coach David Kemmy’s mentorship has shaped his athletic career.
“Coach Kemmy is amazing,” Colton says. “He knows so much and I’ve only had one other coach. Having him has been a great experience. There’s no one like him.”
Wrestling is Colton’s primary focus, but his athleticism extends beyond the mat. He’s also involved in football and rodeo, where he has gained national experience. And he has the belt buckles he’s won to prove it.
“My whole family works with cows and horses,” he says. “I’m involved in team roping. I’ve been to Oklahoma for the National Little Britches Rodeo Association and it’s been a blast.”
Colton lives on a farm, where his family works pastures and raises cattle and he shows cows at the Lake County Fair each year.
“I’ve been showing since sixth grade,” he says. “I love agricultural work and animal husbandry. I’m considering pursuing something in agriculture when I go to college.”
Colton is inspired by how his parents balance hard work and family life with grace.
“My dad, Robbie Fickett, is a Battalion Chief for Lake County Fire and owns Fickett Builders, a construction company,” he says. “I see how much he does for our family and how dedicated he is. I want to be like him when I grow up.”
Colton is also active in his community. He volunteers for FFA fundraisers, hosts cow shows for young children and participates in local events like the 5K run in Mount Dora.
Colton also loves hunting and fishing, and he recently scored his biggest buck in Georgia.
“This buck was chasing a few does and I shot him at around 300 yards,” Colton says. “I got him hanging up in my room.”
Colton’s best advice to younger athletes is when things get hard, keep pushing through. Don’t let the challenges stop you.
Photos: Nicole Hamel
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.
