Ziemba open to new role

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By RON POWELL / Lincoln Journal Star

As the returning starter at quarterback, Zach Ziemba understands the Lincoln North Star offense well enough to play any position on the field.

That knowledge will come in handy this football season. That’s because Tommy John surgery on his right throwing arm this past spring will prevent the senior from being under center this fall. He won’t be cleared for even light tossing until October.

The fact the stocky 6-foot, 225-pounder doesn’t look like a quarterback makes the injury less of an issue for Ziemba. He could be a fullback or a tight end. Or even an offensive lineman, although “I’m not sure I want that much contact with the big guys in there,” Ziemba said, laughing.

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North Star' s QB, Zach Ziemba is run down by Northeast's Cole Pensick in the first half of a Varsity game at Seacrest Field. (LJS File)

North Star' s QB, Zach Ziemba is run down by Northeast's Cole Pensick in the first half of a Varsity game at Seacrest Field. (LJS File)

And defense is also a possibility after Ziemba gets cleared by doctors for contact, a declaration he hopes comes soon. He plans to suit up for the season opener against Omaha Northwest on Aug. 29.

“I was a starting linebacker on the freshman team; I wouldn’t mind trying that again after three years,’’ said Ziemba, who injured his elbow pitching in the Navigators’ 10th baseball game of the spring and had surgery April 24.

“I’ll play wherever the team needs, but it’s tough to find a spot because they’re all filled and we have good players at every position,’’ added Ziemba, who threw for 616 yards last season when North Star went 6-4 and reached the Class A playoffs. “It won’t be the same in the huddle. I like the pressure of being the one calling the plays and the leader on the field.”

North Star has 11 seniors back who started last season either on offense or defense. That should make the transition easier for junior quarterback Joe Hartley, who was the starting signal caller on the JV team last fall. John Tatum, a 6-2, 200-pound senior with experience at both fullback and tight end, is also getting some time at quarterback.

With Ziemba’s injury, “this isn’t the way I wanted to become the starting quarterback,” Hartley said. “I need to be a leader, but being one of the younger guys on offense, I also have to remember there’s plenty of help around me. I just need to let everyone do what they do best and not make mistakes.”

North Star coach Mark Waller says one of the Gators’ strengths is their depth at running back. Michel Mikaya and Diego Green, who combined for 560 yards a year ago, both possess speed and elusiveness outside and power inside. Defensively, Mikaya, a strong safety, and senior cornerback Jerry Key each had three interceptions last season.

Also in the mix at running back is 6-4, 200-pound senior Tyrone Lewis, who’s also penciled in at linebacker. Lewis was at North Star as a sophomore but spent his junior year at Lincoln High.

“I like the makeup of our offense,’’ Waller said. “We have good skilled kids who can run and nice size up front. The addition of Tyrone just makes us that much better. We feel we have a chance to be really good defensively, as well.

“Our mission is to do better than 6-4, and improve on it big time,” the Gator coach added. “We want to take what we accomplished last year and build off it.’’

Reach Ron Powell at 473-7437 or rpowell@journalstar.com.