Bound in Brotherhood
May 12, 2026
As the Messinger brothers move through their time at Hampden-Sydney, they continue to take the meaning of brotherhood to another level.
Always closely connected as brothers—and longtime teammates growing up—Jacob Messinger ’27, Henry Messinger ’29, and Samuel Messinger ’29 are sharing the Hampden-Sydney experience side-by-side while competing on the Hampden-Sydney Lacrosse team. Their path to the Hill began with Jacob, who was determined to continue his lacrosse career while pursuing a strong academic experience.
“I wanted to keep playing lacrosse, and Hampden-Sydney was already on my radar,” Jacob says. “I hit it off right away with Head Lacrosse Coach Jason Rostan ’03, and once I visited campus, it just felt right—especially as someone who loves the outdoors and values being more connected with my professors.”
As Jacob adjusted to life on the Hill during his freshman year, Henry and Samuel visited campus often and got a firsthand look at what it means to be a Hampden-Sydney student. They also frequently traveled down with their father to watch Jacob play lacrosse and spend time with him after games, getting to know his friends and building connections of their own. Those experiences ultimately made the decision to join Jacob on the Hill an easy one, allowing them to continue their shared love of lacrosse together.
"We’re brothers, but we’re also part of a larger brotherhood. I think the entire lacrosse team, along with the broader Hampden-Sydney brotherhood, recognizes and appreciates how close we are, and that energy spreads throughout the community."
-Jacob Messinger ’27
“After Jacob’s last high school lacrosse game, we thought we’d never play lacrosse together again,” Samuel says. “Fast forward, and now we’re back on the field together. Beyond that, it’s the small things—like being able to share the locker room with each other—it means something. It captures the true meaning of brotherhood and being together.”
Lacrosse, as well as being there for one another, means a great deal to the Messinger brothers. For Jacob, the strength of the tight-knit community revealed itself early in his time on the Hill, as the team and broader community came together in support following the passing of Hampden-Sydney student and lacrosse player Ben Lagow ’26—a moment that Jacob continues to reflect on and carry with him.
“It can be hard to appreciate how tight-knit the community is until you lose someone,” Jacob says. “As a team, we came together and worked through the grief, continuing to keep his memory alive. Before every game, we read a poem that reflects the kind of person he was. It really speaks to how special our community is and how important each individual member is.”
That sense of connection extends beyond the field. Through their close bond, the Messinger brothers continue to strengthen the Hampden-Sydney brotherhood by supporting each other, building friendships with one another’s friends, and taking part in activities like team dinners, where new connections are formed and existing ones grow even stronger.
“We’re brothers, but we’re also part of a larger brotherhood,” Jacob says. “I think the entire lacrosse team, along with the broader Hampden-Sydney brotherhood, recognizes and appreciates how close we are, and that energy spreads throughout the community. We all want to push each other to be our best, and I believe those bonds make us even tighter.”
Those close bonds are evident in the many activities they continue to enjoy on and off the Hill. They often spend time outdoors, taking part in mountain biking, skiing—having grown up skiing at Wintergreen Resort in Charlottesville—fly-fishing, and pickup basketball, all experiences that align with the opportunities Hampden-Sydney offers.
In addition to staying active, the three have fully embraced their time on the Hill, creating lasting memories together along the way. From spending time at events like Super Bowl gatherings and bowling outings with friends to celebrating a triple-overtime victory over Randolph-Macon College earlier in the 2026 lacrosse season, all three credit Hampden-Sydney’s welcoming atmosphere as a place where making friends and connecting with others comes naturally.
“You get to know faces very well here, and it’s much different than at larger institutions,” Henry says. “At bigger schools, it’s harder to create a brotherhood like that. Hampden-Sydney is a really special place where you can get to know everyone and build new friendships easily.”
Living together in the Whitehouse Complex, Henry and Samuel haven’t missed a beat, making the most of their first year on the Hill. With Jacob continuing to guide them along the way, they look up to him and take to heart their older brother’s advice and guidance.
“He’s carving a path for us and helping us navigate challenges and obstacles,” Henry says. “It’s great to hear all the positivity about Hampden-Sydney from him and see him succeed during his time here as well. It gives us a sense of what we can achieve too.”
“If there’s anybody to look up to, it would be Jacob, because he has excelled in every aspect of his life,” Samuel adds. “He’s so much more than a mentor, and it means even more knowing the person I look up to is him—it’s not some Hollywood figure, it’s my big brother.”
The brothers also consider their parents role models, crediting them with supporting and encouraging them to be their best while teaching valuable life lessons. They value the moments on the Hill such as Family Weekend, when their entire family—including their sister—can reunite and celebrate the strong family bond that remains central to them.
As the Messinger brothers continue to embody the spirit of brotherhood, they carry forward a bond shaped by family, strengthened through their love of lacrosse, and deepened through shared experiences on and off the Hill. Together, they continue to grow as students, teammates, and siblings, contributing to a culture defined by connection, support, and unity that extends well beyond the field.