 Recently honored as First Team All Conference, Tinaishe Chikwata ‘26 never expected basketball to take her across the world, but now, as an international student from Zimbabwe, she is making a name for herself on the court.
Growing up in Zimbabwe, when Chikwata first picked up a basketball, she quickly fell in love with the sport. Her natural talent and work ethic got her to compete at a high level, catching the attention of coaches across the world. Moving wasn’t easy. Adjusting to a new culture, balancing sports with academics, and competing at a high level came with challenges. “The journey was hard,” she said. “Back home, basketball wasn't as competitive as here. It was easier. And I feel like, because it was home, it was more familiar.” But that didn’t stop her. “I came like something new, which was good, but it was also a bit demoralizing, because I didn't know what I was supposed to be training for, what to get ready for. But yeah, my coaches and my teammates helped me get to that stage.” Not long after arriving, she was already known for her skills. “She cheers a lot for our team,” Mercedes Herrera ‘27 said. “And knows how to shoot really well.” With all the hard work she put in during the basketball season, she won first team all conference. “I feel good about it. I'm very grateful and very thankful to all my teammates and my coaches, but I feel good.” After having the very successful basketball season she now has other goals in mind. “I'm gonna be playing soccer and hopefully some travel basketball” Outside of sports, Chikwata has a clear goal. “I always wanted to be a doctor,” she said. “And I'm trying to work towards that.”  In her last home meet of her senior season, Adelaide “Addie” Finch ‘25 dives into the pool, living her final moments of her high school swimming career. After being on the swim team for two years at North Cross, her hard work earned her two varsity letters. Being on the team has brought her so many good memories, but her favorite is “making snow angels outside between our sets during practice.” Her arrival to North Cross has had both: a great impact on the school, and a great impact on her. “North Cross has provided me with new experiences and opportunities” she said, “that I, otherwise, would not have had.”
 What happens when 14 different countries live under the same roof? Memories, friendships, and a whole lot of unexpected moments. For Jonathan Mack, this is what makes dorm life special.
“My favorite thing is the kids, the students,” Mack said. “You have 32 different students from 14 different countries. It gives you a chance to really see how people from other countries live and how they make adjustments and balance their culture and American culture.” Living in a dorm filled with students from around the world means plenty of unforgettable stories. When asked what the funniest moment so far was, he didn’t hesitate: “Probably scaring Jonas,” Mack said. “Coming out of the dorm, I was so excited that I scared him, and then I was like, ‘Cool, chill.’ And then he just fell out laughing afterwards because it was different. He wasn’t expecting it.” Mack also went to a boarding school for a year after graduating high school. His time at Fork Union Military Academy provided him with many experiences that help him understand the students in the dorm better. After graduating Northeastern University, with a degree in sociology, he ended up working several jobs involving juvenile mental health, therapist, advisor and coach. Because of this, Mack is more than just a worker in the dorm. His background, working in juvenile mental health and his own experience living in a boarding school, made Mack the perfect fit for his role in the dorm. More importantly, it gives him the chance to connect with the students on a more personal level. “I’m a voice of reason,” he said. “Because of my age, y’all kind of see me more as a parent than someone who can relate, but I can relate to your things. Some things I’ve experienced, I know how to help you get through. My experience, personal growth, and being a parent all help me guide students through life as a teenager.” Mack knows what it’s like to be a student in a dorm environment because he’s been there before. As a teenager, he was very involved in sports, always doing something. “I was a jock. I was an athlete,” he said. “I was constantly playing football, basketball, and running track. So this is a little different. Yes, we have some athletes here, but they’re not as competitive as the athletes I was around growing up.” Outside of sports, he admitted he has a passion for musicals. “I love musicals,” he said. “Especially ‘Sound of Music’. Nobody expects that.” Mack is a great addition to the dorm. He is someone anyone can talk to about anything and know he is going to listen and help. The advice he gives after his own experiences is “that everybody comes from different cultures, different walks, different backgrounds; so be patient enough and be willing to listen and understand, because not everything is black and white.”  After doing it countless times in practice, Mercedes Herrera ‘27 gets through the defense, dodging defenders and heading to the basket. In the girls basketball game against Faith Christian School, the team ended up losing 50-42. “We could have done so much better,” Herrera said. ”We were unfocused.” Even though the team started off slow, their determination was shown to try and get the win. “In the first half we kept losing the ball and making many mistakes," Herrera said, “but in the second half we locked in and we were able to get more points in, but still couldn't get the win.” The Raiders now switch their focus to The Covenant School, determined to take the win this time.
 In an attempt to display the school spirit, North Cross organized a "Fun Bus" to take students to the state football finals. Although only 11 students got on the bus, their support for the team was visible as they painted their faces and held cowbells and thunder sticks to cheer on their team. The journey was quiet at first, but later, students started playing music and singing along. The bus was full of snacks and drinks for everyone. While the bleachers turned red packed with teachers and parents, the students on the bus stood out with their cheers and face paint. “It’s a lot of fun seeing my dorm people on the field,” sophomore Alex Nguyen said. “I initially came to support my friend, but it was fun to see the team play” The ride to the stadium was initially quiet during the morning, but the vibe changed on the way back. Even though the team lost, the students ended the day blasting music and singing together after stopping at Cook Out to get dinner. “There should be a fan bus for every important away game,” Alex said, reflecting on the experience. “In the JV soccer championship, there wasn’t anyone supporting but the bench players, and I think it would have been nice to have more people supporting” The day left a long lasting memory on the students who attended. From the painted faces to the loud cheers, and even the off-key singing on the ride back, the experience was a reminder that it was more than just the game, it was about forming a community.  Susan Wenk and Armistead Lemon cheer enthusiastically at the state finals, rooting for the football team with personalized signs.  North Cross staff brings undeniable energy and environment to the game, covered in red and cheering with signs and clappers.
 COUNTER ATTACK: Cesar Suarez ‘25 runs deep to create space for Hunter Basile ‘25. Varsity Soccer won the quarter finals against Trinity Christian School 3-1 at home, with the field packed and loud, securing a place in the semifinals. “In the quarter finals, the team played pretty well, we were all focused. It was pretty intense,” Suarez said, “I got heated in the last few minutes, but nothing happened, we ended up winning 3-1.” In the semifinals against Seton School, the team ended up losing 4-2. “In the semifinals there were some mistakes by the team and a lack of confidence.” Suarez said, “But we played well, we could have taken it; it was because of silly mistakes.” The team played more offensive than defensive in the quarter finals, while in the semifinals they were doing the opposite. “There was also a lack of communication and chemistry.” Suarez said, “We started preseason with little hope, but we all progressed and improved a lot together. And as a team, we’ve done really well.”
 KILL! With perfect form, Scout Kappes ‘26 prepares to spike the ball over the net, passing the opposing team’s blockers. Kappes leads the team with 280 kills this season according to maxpreps.com. Varsity Volleyball came up victorious 3-0 over Chatham Hall in the last home game of the regular season. After the loss against rivals, Roanoke Catholic, during senior night, the win felt like a relief. “The game was pretty easy for us,” Viktoriia Iarkova said, “ and as a team, I think it was important to have an easy game, to just realize that we still can do everything and we're still a great team.” The team now shifted its focus to the next game, with playoffs around the corner, determined to have a great end of the season.
 Sporting his Los Angeles Lakers swag, Nikheel Sherigar ‘26 walks through Willis Hall during break after the Decades Day competition for gift cards. Homecoming week arrived at North Cross school, and Decades Day was the first spirit day. Each upper school grade dressed as a different decade, freshman being the ‘70s, sophomores the ‘80s, juniors the ‘90s and seniors the 2000s. “This is what spirit week is all about,” Susan Wenk, student council association advisor said. “Everyone who thinks their costume is great, come outside for the contest.” With the costumes being so even, the judges had to make a choice and chose three winners: Christian Lang ‘25, Cole Hoff ‘27 and Kaitlyn Perkins ‘28. The prize was a Chick-fil-A gift card. “It was really fun to see people dressed up and wearing clothes they wouldn’t normally wear,” Perkins said.
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I am MonicaMy name is Mónica Koene Muñoz, and I am a soccer goalie and guitarrist. I come from Spain and I'm here as an international student. Archives
March 2025
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