Lynden’s senior captain Case Zweegman dominates on defense, but he can catch, too
Third-year defensive line standout Case Zweegman appears likely to have a strong shot at making his first touchdown official, after all.
In fact, because Lynden coach Blake VanDalen plans to continue using the 6-foot-5, 240-pound senior captain at tight end, he may get more than one score.
Zweegman, also a talented baseball player, looks the part of a tight end, what with greater speed and better moves than most defensive tackles.
“Case has been our top backup at all five interior offensive line positions for two seasons,” said VanDalen. “He still will be, but we want to see what he can do at tight end.”
Some observers felt Zweegman should have been credited with a touchdown on his scoop-and-score recovery of a lateral pass with less than three minutes left during Lynden’s 15-12 win over visiting Squalicum in a Northwest Conference Class 2A opener Sept. 17.
Zweegman experienced touchdown emotions but was soon disappointed when the play was ruled an incomplete pass after a conference among officials. But less than a minute later, he was thrilled to see fellow senior Ryan Kleindel make a game-clinching interception.
“Now I also really want to get a touchdown on defense,” he said.
Zweegman, a stalwart on the defensive line as a sophomore in the 2019 2A state playoff semifinals, will be gunning for his usual quota of tackles as well as a touchdown when Lynden (2-1) visits Burlington-Edison (2-0-1) Friday.
But the affable big guy says “my heart will always be on defense.”
“I’m undecided on college football, and academics is so important to me, but if the opportunity presents itself and it’s a good (academic and athletic) fit, I’ll hope to play defense,” he said.
He may major in medicine “because I want to help people in my career,” said Zweegman, whose grade-point average is 3.92.
“I got two A-minuses in English as a sophomore,” he said with a laugh.
Zweegman says he’ll always remember a game in which he didn’t play.
“I was excited just to be dressed for the game on the sideline,” he said of Lynden’s 42-37 loss to Hockinson in the 2018 2A title game in the last season that championships were decided at the Tacoma Dome.
“Just seeing the way our older players loved it and bonded definitely inspired me Now one reason I want us to play in the finals this year is so maybe I can help inspire our younger players,” he said. “I feel that’s my responsibility.”
VanDalen says he’ll always remember how excited Zweegman was when he was called up to practice with the varsity for the playoffs after he spent his freshman season on the C team as a lanky 6-2, 180-pounder who was soon destined to grow a lot more.
“I had a pretty good growth spurt as a freshman,” he said.
VanDalen and his staff quickly appreciated Zweegman’s potential.
“Case really impressed us with his workouts as a freshman,” VanDalen said.
Zweegman did a lot of blocking at tight end against Squalicum, but some of the heaviest rain and wind seen in many years in a local September game made passing risky.
With football put on hold and classes a remote affair in the fall of his junior year, Zweegman experienced “most definitely a weird fall.”
But when a six-game winter season began Feb. 1, Zweegman received one of his favorite football memories, even though there were no playoffs for the only time since they began in 1973.
“It sure felt like something was missing. But we got a snowy Saturday practice for my birthday Feb. 13,” he said. “I never thought football would be taken away, and I took some aspects for granted, but now I appreciate the game more than ever.”
Zweegman says what he missed more than anything else was time with his teammates, especially without playoffs.
“I feel football builds (or reveals) character more than any high school sport,” he said.
VanDalen said Zweegman has a reputation for being the last guy out of the locker room, thanks to his penchant for cleaning up the place.
“There’s no reason to make the job harder for the janitors,” he said.
That’s not how he feels about his new role making the task tougher for defenders.
WEEK FOUR
Friday’s games
Lynden at Burlington-Edison, 7 p.m.
Bellingham at Meridian, 7 p.m.
Ferndale at Mount Vernon, 7 p.m.
Squalicum vs. Lakewood at Civic Stadium, 7 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at King’s, 7 p.m.
Sehome at Sedro-Woolley, 7 p.m.
No games
Lynden Christian, Mount Baker, Blaine, Lummi.
