NSA’s own Cole Christiansen has been named a team captain for Army.

The Suffolk native and former Nansemond-Suffolk Academy Saint has defied the usual operation of business for the Army at West Point football team. As a junior currently participating in the spring program, Christiansen was named one of three team captains for the coming season for Army. It is uncommon for a junior to be voted a captain with some worthy seniors throughout the program.

He is the fifth junior to be selected captain in the program’s history, and he is the only defensive captain on the team this season.

After a decent freshman season, Christiansen rose up the ranks as a sophomore and was named a starter at outside linebacker. He finished his sophomore season last December with 84 tackles, which was second on the team, and an interception.

“I am honored,” he said. “A lot of responsibility comes with being captain, especially on a team like ours that has had so many good captains in the past. I feel more than capable of filling those shoes, and I’m really excited about this chance to do so as an underclassman.”

Christiansen believes earning this honor will also push him to keep improving his game. Despite showing significant improvement each year, he does not feel he has arrived by any means. Instead, he feels he has more to prove now than in his previous two seasons. For his junior season, he has anticipated more improvement.

“You have to walk the walk when put in a position like this,” he said. “I am going to continue to work harder and hopefully make a big jump in my game for next season.”

Since news got out about him being selected a team captain, Christiansen said, he has had a lot of love from people back home. There have been a lot of calls and texts, and he is happy that everyone back home is proud of him.

Army will be heading to the White House in May to visit the president for winning the Commander-In-Chief trophy after defeating Navy last season. It was the first time the team had won it in more than 21 years.

“It has been a long time since the CIC trophy has made its way back home, so it was special for us to be the ones to return it,” Christiansen said. “None of us can wait to get to the White House and shake the president’s hand.”