ED'S BOYS IN THE NEWS . . . .
Andrew Pekarek, Press-Gazette Media
Daniel and Jake Vopal have the same birthday.
It’s one of the few things the fraternal twin brothers from De Pere have in common.
“It’s kind of a weird thing because we’re nothing alike at all,” Daniel said. “He’s literally like a polar opposite. It’s not even close.”
Daniel has long hair, a laid-back personality, is musically gifted and runs cross-country.
Jake has a buzz cut, is intense, possesses the gift of gab and plays football.
Although the Vopal twins compete in different fall sports, the seniors have enjoyed similar success as four-year varsity competitors.
“I’ve gone to his state cross-country meets, and he’s been there for football,” Jake said. “It’s a real blessing to have both of us be so competitive in what we do. It’s been fun.”
It has been equally fun for Daniel and Jake to see the reaction on the faces of teachers when they find out the two are twins.
The Vopals haven’t had a class together since seventh grade. But in high school they’ve had many of the same teachers, who usually assume Daniel and Jake are cousins.
“I honestly didn’t know Daniel had a twin until his sophomore year,” De Pere cross-country and track coach James Boyd said.
Boyd is also a twin. His identical twin brother, Patrick, is the cross-country and track coach at Wrightstown.
“I think twins can go both ways,” Boyd said. “Sometimes they want to be different from the other and purposely go somewhere else. Sometimes they stay connected and do the same things. … In this case (the Vopals) both clearly went in different directions.”
That was evident from a young age for the Vopals.
“The differences in their personalities were apparent since we were little,” said De Pere junior Aaron Vopal, who is the younger brother of Daniel and Jake. “I don’t remember a day where Daniel and Jake were alike in any way.”
Daniel, the elder of the twins by about a minute, was slightly bigger as a child. That started to change when they were old enough to play Pop Warner football.
“I totally sucked,” Daniel said. “I was the guy who would jump on top of the pile and act like you got the tackle. I was terrible. That’s when I figured I’ll start running. It seemed a lot easier.
“(Jake) got big real quick. He’s a real aggressive guy. If he wasn’t a football player, he’d be a fighter or something. He’s like the Hulk. I’m more chilled out. Before races I don’t get too pumped up. I just do what I have to do.”
Genetics would suggest both twins were destined to become successful athletes. Their father, Edward, was an offensive lineman at Northern Michigan University. Their mother, Cynthia, has competed in Ironman triathlon competitions.
Daniel went on to earn a varsity spot on the De Pere cross-country team as a freshman, while Jake became the starting center on the football team after he won a state power-lifting title for his age group in Appleton.
“He still eats more than me,” Jake said of Daniel, who can play a variety of instruments.
“He’s a real musical guy. I tried playing guitar as a kid and was pretty bad at it. … I swear to God he’s nocturnal. I don’t know how he does it. I can’t do it. If it’s 9:30 after football (practice), you’ll see me in my room snoring.”
Daniel has advanced to the WIAA state cross-country meet the last two years. Jake, who can squat 475 pounds and deadlift 600 pounds, made the transition from center to the defensive tackle as a junior and is a key cog for the undefeated Redbirds.
“It’s not easy coming on varsity as a freshman,” De Pere football coach Chad Michalkiewicz said. “From a confidence standpoint, I can only imagine being 14 years old and playing 18-year-olds. But Jake has really come into his own here. He really had a dominant performance against Ashwaubenon. He was a big part of us getting that big win.”
Daniel and Jake agreed that their younger — but not smaller — brother is probably the biggest athletic star in the family.
At 6-foot-7, Aaron towers over his older brothers. He plays alongside Jake on the defensive line in football and is a standout forward on the basketball team.
“They would team up on me (as kids),” Aaron said. “I remember it was so bad.
“The biggest difference between them is how they act around people. If you put Jake and Daniel in a room, they would literally walk to the opposite ends. Jake would be the one talking and commanding. Dan would be, I don’t want to say a follower, but he’s more quiet and reserved.”
The Vopal brothers seem to share at least one trait.
“They’re all quality young men from my interactions with them,” Michalkiewicz said. “That’s what you want in your program and school.”
— apekarek@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @andrewpekarek.
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| De Pere seniors Daniel, left, and Jake Vopal are four-year varsity athletes. Besides playing different sports, the twins have different personalities as well.(Photo: Andrew Pekarek/Press-Gazette Media) |
Daniel and Jake Vopal have the same birthday.
It’s one of the few things the fraternal twin brothers from De Pere have in common.
“It’s kind of a weird thing because we’re nothing alike at all,” Daniel said. “He’s literally like a polar opposite. It’s not even close.”
Daniel has long hair, a laid-back personality, is musically gifted and runs cross-country.
Jake has a buzz cut, is intense, possesses the gift of gab and plays football.
Although the Vopal twins compete in different fall sports, the seniors have enjoyed similar success as four-year varsity competitors.
“I’ve gone to his state cross-country meets, and he’s been there for football,” Jake said. “It’s a real blessing to have both of us be so competitive in what we do. It’s been fun.”
It has been equally fun for Daniel and Jake to see the reaction on the faces of teachers when they find out the two are twins.
The Vopals haven’t had a class together since seventh grade. But in high school they’ve had many of the same teachers, who usually assume Daniel and Jake are cousins.
“I honestly didn’t know Daniel had a twin until his sophomore year,” De Pere cross-country and track coach James Boyd said.
Boyd is also a twin. His identical twin brother, Patrick, is the cross-country and track coach at Wrightstown.
“I think twins can go both ways,” Boyd said. “Sometimes they want to be different from the other and purposely go somewhere else. Sometimes they stay connected and do the same things. … In this case (the Vopals) both clearly went in different directions.”
That was evident from a young age for the Vopals.
“The differences in their personalities were apparent since we were little,” said De Pere junior Aaron Vopal, who is the younger brother of Daniel and Jake. “I don’t remember a day where Daniel and Jake were alike in any way.”
Daniel, the elder of the twins by about a minute, was slightly bigger as a child. That started to change when they were old enough to play Pop Warner football.
“I totally sucked,” Daniel said. “I was the guy who would jump on top of the pile and act like you got the tackle. I was terrible. That’s when I figured I’ll start running. It seemed a lot easier.
“(Jake) got big real quick. He’s a real aggressive guy. If he wasn’t a football player, he’d be a fighter or something. He’s like the Hulk. I’m more chilled out. Before races I don’t get too pumped up. I just do what I have to do.”
Genetics would suggest both twins were destined to become successful athletes. Their father, Edward, was an offensive lineman at Northern Michigan University. Their mother, Cynthia, has competed in Ironman triathlon competitions.
Daniel went on to earn a varsity spot on the De Pere cross-country team as a freshman, while Jake became the starting center on the football team after he won a state power-lifting title for his age group in Appleton.
“He still eats more than me,” Jake said of Daniel, who can play a variety of instruments.
“He’s a real musical guy. I tried playing guitar as a kid and was pretty bad at it. … I swear to God he’s nocturnal. I don’t know how he does it. I can’t do it. If it’s 9:30 after football (practice), you’ll see me in my room snoring.”
Daniel has advanced to the WIAA state cross-country meet the last two years. Jake, who can squat 475 pounds and deadlift 600 pounds, made the transition from center to the defensive tackle as a junior and is a key cog for the undefeated Redbirds.
“It’s not easy coming on varsity as a freshman,” De Pere football coach Chad Michalkiewicz said. “From a confidence standpoint, I can only imagine being 14 years old and playing 18-year-olds. But Jake has really come into his own here. He really had a dominant performance against Ashwaubenon. He was a big part of us getting that big win.”
Daniel and Jake agreed that their younger — but not smaller — brother is probably the biggest athletic star in the family.
At 6-foot-7, Aaron towers over his older brothers. He plays alongside Jake on the defensive line in football and is a standout forward on the basketball team.
“They would team up on me (as kids),” Aaron said. “I remember it was so bad.
“The biggest difference between them is how they act around people. If you put Jake and Daniel in a room, they would literally walk to the opposite ends. Jake would be the one talking and commanding. Dan would be, I don’t want to say a follower, but he’s more quiet and reserved.”
The Vopal brothers seem to share at least one trait.
“They’re all quality young men from my interactions with them,” Michalkiewicz said. “That’s what you want in your program and school.”
— apekarek@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @andrewpekarek.
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