Former Nansemond-Suffolk Academy lacrosse standout C.J. White has garnered a special honor as a senior player on the team at Hampden-Sydney College this season.

He is one of four members to be named team captain on a roster that features 65 players total, including 15 seniors.

“It means a lot to me,” White said, especially because the big group of seniors is like family to him now. He said the fact he has gained their respect over the last four years is important to him.

“I think I kind of just bring a little bit of fire, and I love being with my teammates,” he said, pointing to why he thinks he was chosen as team captain.

Hampden-Sydney coach Ray Rostan covered some new and similar reasons.

“He’s a defensive midfielder right now on our team, and I just feel like he’s one of the best I’ve ever had doing that,” the coach said. “More than that, he’s just a great leader.”

Rostan continued, noting White has “got a huge, huge heart,” he is a good student, “he’s tough and liked by all his teammates, very much so,” he is a very fiery player and “(I) really felt like he hit his stride last season.”

The Tigers upset No.1-seeded Roanoke College last season in the semifinals of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament before ultimately falling 21-13 to No. 3 Lynchburg College in the championship.

Rostan said White suffered a hamstring injury mid-season last year, but nonetheless had a great year overall. This season, he’s healthy and hitting his stride.

White’s college lacrosse career has been one in which he has had to show his versatility.

He made his mark at Nansemond-Suffolk as the Saints’ starting goalkeeper. He was good enough that his performance caught Hampden-Sydney’s interest.

“I was recruited as a goalkeeper and going into my freshman year, we had a senior goalie that was taking most of the reps,” he said, adding it was discouraging to see little playing time.

But he managed to play in six games, and six grew to seven the next season when he underwent a major transition that helped broadened his knowledge of the game.

“As a sophomore, I started taking a few face-offs and playing some defensive midfield,” he said.

He was a regular starter as a defensive midfielder during his junior year.

“I thought C.J. really kind of took the position over last year,” Rostan said.

The coach testified to the difficulty of transitioning from goalkeeper to a position in the field involving a short stick.

“It’s not a move most guys can make,” he said.

Indicating the broad range of his position’s responsibilities, White said, “You have to be willing to shoot and score when the time comes,” but you are also one of the last lines of defense.

Rostan said White’s experience in seventh and eighth grades as an attackman has helped him bring a combination of skills to the Tigers.

White’s stick skills have improved significantly during his time at Hampden-Sydney, the coach said, to go along with the strength and quickness that he has always demonstrated.

The Tigers are currently 0-1 this season and visit The Catholic University of America on Tuesday.