No matter how great a spring you had this year, chances are Jack Fishwick has you beat. Not only did he earn a spot in the All-Virginia Chorus – the only boy from Roanoke to do so and only the second North Cross student in school history to manage the achievement – but he was also named to the VISAA All-State First Team in tennis. He played Mr. Bigley in North Cross’s production of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” and he made the honor roll again this semester, as he has every semester of high school.
“Jack’s a dramatic, competitive kid,” said his mom, Jeanne. “He loves the spotlight, and he loves to win.”
While everything seemed to come together for Jack this spring, he built his successes bit by bit, through hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance. Jack spent a decade in the church choir, and he has invested thousands of hours performing in every North Cross theatre production since fourth grade and many Mill Mountain Theatre productions, as well.
His quest for all-state choir began in November with an audition for all-district choir, which required performing a difficult prepared piece plus a sight-reading selection chosen by a panel of judges. Jack was the only North Cross student to make all-district choir, and one of only two students selected to represent Roanoke in all-state choir, an honor group that practiced 36 hours over three days in April to prepare for a concert with a renowned guest conductor from Utah.
Jack switched from baseball to tennis in middle school and practices as often as he can, up to four hours a day in the summer months. Jack made the school’s varsity team as an eighth-grader – after only a year of serious tennis – and he has improved his position on the team every year since.
Eighth grade was when he won the USTA Junior Sportsmanship of the Year Award, which was presented to him by tennis legend Stan Smith during a ceremony in Richmond in 2012. “I’ve never seen Jack win,” said the tennis pro who nominated Jack for the award at the time, “but I’ve always seen him happy.” Jack’s tennis has come a long way in the last three years, and he’s happier than ever.
Jack played number three on the tennis team this spring and dropped only four matches all season, and he and his doubles partner have been undefeated for the past two years. North Cross boys’ tennis won the conference championship this year, and they also won the state championship, a feat that has never before been achieved in school history, not even in the heyday of Jack’s father, after whom the North Cross courts are named.
Jack received the Coach’s Award this season, plus all-conference and all-state honors, and he attributes the team’s success to its coach, Robert Robillard. “He knows us, and he knows how to motivate us,” said Jack. “The seniors have been with him since eighth grade. Our team is a family, and he treats us like sons. At our team dinner, Coach Robillard told everyone, ‘If your team’s going to sing on the bus, then you want Jack Fishwick on your team.’ He knows me; he gets me. He gets all of us.”
In addition to continuing to perfect his singing and tennis skills, this summer Jack will find time to take a home-learning Advanced Placement Music Theory class, sit for his driver’s learner’s permit test, and tour colleges. Because as great as junior year was, Jack wants even more for senior year. More spotlight, more winning…more Jack.
– Regina Carson
