During Christopher Chang’s three years in Lake Zurich’s football program, he has sped past multiple mileposts and adeptly tackled what came next.
Chang recalls being a wide-eyed freshman who was new to football and hoped to use his soccer background to help the Bears as a kicker.
“It’s hard to look back and think where I’ve come from,” Chang said. “Three years ago, I was a soccer player. In such a short time, I’m blessed to be in such a good position in my football career.”
Chang will actually be in multiple positions during his senior season, and kicker isn’t one of them. Twice an All-North Suburban Conference pick at outside linebacker, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Chang will also play wide receiver for the Bears (4-5, 4-3), who will open the season on the road against Fremd on Friday.
“He’s a guy who most likely won’t be coming off the field,” Lake Zurich coach Ron Planz said. “This offseason, he worked really hard to be in position to do that. He’s an unbelievable athlete, which helps. But to see what he’s developed into is a testament to his dedication.”
Chang played solely on defense during his junior season, when he had 40 tackles and three interceptions, but graduation took virtually all of the Bears’ receiving production. He’s confident he’ll hit the ground running as a dependable, productive target for returning senior quarterback Reid Pfeifer.
“The goal has always been to start both ways, but last year I may not have been polished enough to do it,” Chang said. “It helps that Reid is way more confident than he was last year, and he and I are childhood friends. We’ve always hung out, so that relationship will only help on the field. Our connection goes deeper than just running a route.”
Pfeifer likes what he has seen from Chang on offense in the preseason.
“He’s going to be huge for us,” Pfeifer said. “In the past, we’ve been known for running the option or our screen game, but he’ll help us open things up with his speed.”
Forging a connection among all of their teammates is something that has been foisted onto Chang, who was voted Lake Zurich’s “Agent Zero” for this season. The moniker is a significant honor within the program and is bestowed upon the player who best exemplifies the values identified as precursors for success, both on and off the field. It also means Chang wears No. 0.
“I’m not a huge rah-rah guy, and I usually don’t try to call attention to myself,” he said. “I do realize that on the football field it’s important to be a vocal leader. It’s a huge honor that my teammates think I’m worthy of that label, and I want to strive to be as good of a leader as possible.”
The “Agent Zero” designation gives the recipient a lofty standing within the program but comes with pressure to live up to the expectations.
“Just last week, I was frustrated with myself and felt like I was making too many mistakes,” Chang said. “After practice, I was just sitting by myself, feeling the stress I was putting on myself. Coach Planz changed my mindset by telling me that I’m not going to be perfect and to do my best just trying to be what the team needs me to be.
“I was striving for an unattainable goal, and I’m in a much better state of mind now.”
Pfeifer fully endorses Chang in the role.
“He’s always locked in and sets a great example for everyone to follow,” Pfeifer said. “I knew he’d be pretty special by seeing how he attacked practicing, even when we were younger. It’s the same thing with school. Everything he does, he does with a purpose.”
Indeed, Chang has applied that focus from the get-go. Intending to be a kicker only when he arrived on campus, Chang was told by the Bears’ freshman coach that he would also have to play on offense or defense.
Chang’s athleticism quickly showed, and he became a varsity mainstay on defense the next season. Planz recalls a play during a game against Lake Forest in 2023 when Chang’s move off the line pierced the backfield so quickly that he intercepted a quarterback option pitch and ran the ball to the end zone for a touchdown.
Chang makes sure to share the credit for that play.
“We had practiced against that play a million times, so once I saw it coming, I was set,” he said. “My coaches put me in position to execute that.”
With more plays like that on film this season, Chang may attract additional interest from college coaches. He already has offers from Dayton, Carnegie Mellon and Washington University. Given Chang’s 5.1 GPA, Ivy League teams are beginning to take notice as well.
Chang will relish the opportunity to continue his football career, but he’s also eyeing college as a way to help him satisfy even bigger aspirations.
“I know I’m not going to be an NFL player, and academics has always been an ambitious thing for me,” he said. “My goal is to make a positive difference in the world. By continuing on a path with strong academics, I’ll have options open to me to do whatever I want to do.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
