NC commits: Zach Afalla’s successful momentum

Ciara Whimbush, Editor in Chief

February 24, 2025

November 13, senior and attackman Zach Afalla (3) committed to play lacrosse at Hampton University in the Fall of 2025. Known around the field for his passion for the sport, Afalla has created a name for himself through the game of lacrosse — without the help of his recognizable hairstyle. As he progresses on towards collaborating with his new Division One teammates, the young athlete reflects fondly on his time with the brotherhood he created at NC.

To continue the trend of thriving student athletes emerging from NC, senior and varsity boy’s lacrosse (2-0) midfielder Zach Afalla (3) announced his commitment to Hampton University on his Instagram account August 7, 2024. Then, November 13, 2024, he joined his teammates, seniors Andrew LaPierre (15) and Donte Wagner-Kline (2), as well as Lady Warriors varsity volleyball (34-16) seniors Sarah Boyle (7), Olivia Boyle (15) and Carys Sanabria (10) in formally committing to play their respective sports post-high school. Underneath the warm lighting of the NC Arena, the student-athlete excitedly celebrated his future in lacrosse with several of his family members and friends.

Through watching his older cousins play lacrosse, Afalla developed a deep affinity for the sport. As a fan of collegiate lacrosse, watching attackman Lyle Thompson create his unique method of playing the game inspired Afalla to forge his own trail on the field — which he successfully did during his time at NC. Within his role as a middie, Afalla helped his teammates create scoring opportunities and allowed him the space to play on both offense and defense.

“What I love the most about playing lacrosse for NC is how diverse our team is. It’s rare to see a diverse lacrosse team, and there are so many guys on the team that I can call my brothers. The brotherhood of NC lacrosse is unmatched, [and] the community is extremely supportive — from the hard-working coaches on the sideline to the parents cheering from the stands,” Afalla said.

With the 2025 lacrosse season on the horizon, Afalla, alongside his fellow senior teammates and friends, anticipates an exciting time ahead. So far, the varsity lacrosse Warriors have dominated their opponents; February 14, they beat Northgate High School (0-1) in their first regular match of the season, with an impressive score of 13-7. Looking forward to continuing this momentum, Afalla highly regards the passion and camaraderie within his teammates and hopes to keep that feeling going through the coming months.

The welcoming environment of Hampton’s players reminded Afalla of his current lacrosse home at NC, and the school’s status as a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) similarly piqued Afalla’s interest. As another perk of attending Hampton University, Afalla will learn from Chazz Woodson, a former Premier League lacrosse player and the Head Coach of the Hampton varsity Pirates. With a new school and new team approaching, Afalla looks favorably upon his next four years at Hampton University.

“Lacrosse has changed my life from becoming a boy into a man. The ups and downs of our seasons have taught me a lot from how you bounce back, to how you keep momentum. A piece of advice I have for younger lacrosse players is that whatever sport you’re in, take in all the criticism. Don’t feel like coaches hate you because of it, their feedback shows that they care,” Afalla said.

The Chant wishes Afalla success during his time at Hampton University and remains proud of all of his accolades thus far. Go Pirates!

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About the Contributors

Ciara Whimbush, Editor in Chief

One fateful day in 2013, Ciara Whimbush wrote a story about two girls visiting a witch’s house in the woods. Throughout the process, she stumbled across the thing that made her feel most like herself: writing. As Whimbush nears the end of her high school career, she excitedly looks to see how her writing and creativity can push her to new heights. In her new role as The Chant’s Editor in Chief, Whimbush aims to spread her adoration and appreciation for journalism to all students, both in and outside of NC. Alongside being published in The Chant, Whimbush has also been featured in the Marietta Daily Journal, The Legal Pad, and The Georgia Recorder. Alongside The Chant, Whimbush holds the field of social studies in high regard, as she actively participates in organizations such as Rhizome, She Cares International, and Students 4 Ashwin that serve to uplift youth voices in civic engagement. Aside from typing away on her keyboard, her other interests include spinning her flag and rifle on the NC Color Guard, baking sweets, scrapbooking, and indulging in the latest reality television shows sweeping streaming services. During her third and final year at The Chant, Whimbush aims to become a better writer, an impactful leader and a conscious citizen of the world; through interviews, articles, and exploring outside of her comfort zone, Whimbush hopes that by the end of her time at NC, that she can make her first-grade self proud of how far she has come. Find her on Instagram: @c1araaaaaa.

Addie Hill, Lead Page and Media Team Liaison

Advancing into her second year on The Chant, Addie Hill’s love for writing has only grown. Now serving as the Page Lead and Media Team Liaison, Hill hopes to expand her abilities as a writer, communicator and editor, all while still striving to reach her main goal for this year: worshiping Jesus. As co-leader of NC’s Collective Hope Bible Study Club and attendee of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Hill aims to spread God’s love through writing. Outside of reporting, Hill loves to dance, listen to indie-folk music, read, crochet, spend time with her family and friends, and attend church. She cannot wait to finish her final chapter at NC by reporting for the school’s publication, and she strives to write for a newspaper in college and beyond! Find her on Instagram @addielhill.