If you were on campus last semester, you are probably familiar with the signs pronouncing “The Vorpagel Revolution.” For a while, it seemed that everywhere you looked, there were messages written in chalk in support of whatever that “Revolution” may be. What you may not know is that the inspiration for this movement is N.C. State swimmer Jon Vorpagel.
Vorpagel, a junior in history from Williamsburg Va., competes for the Wolfpack in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyles. His personal best of 1:40.91 in the 200-yard freestyle was third on last year’s team. But he had little to say of the revolution he triggered.
“The Vorpagel Revolution — well, all I can say is it’s greatness,” Vorpagel said. “That’s all I can say. I am really not supposed to talk about it. I got in trouble for it earlier in the year.”
Many of the chalk signs were written on vertical surfaces, which violates University rules. According to Vorpagel, the administrators for Carmichael Gymnasium, as well as those of the Casey Aquatic Center, were concerned with the number of signs going up in that area.
“My coach wasn’t too happy about hearing from Carmichael Gym,” Vorpagel said. “Facilities here wasn’t too thrilled either.”
It is unclear what exactly the revolution was. Vorpagel and his teammates are tightlipped about its purpose and nature.
Assistant coach Christopher Woodard, while declining to comment on the Revolution, had much to say regarding what Vorpagel brings to the team.
“High energy would be an understatement,” Woodard said. “He is extremely motivated. He is the type of guy that basically does a set and then says, ‘Is that all?'”
Last season Vorpagel competed primarily in the 100-yard and 200-yard freestyle events. This year he has moved into the middle distances, competing in the 500-yard freestyle as well. Vorpagel said it is difficult adjusting to the increased distances.
“The hardest part is right before a longer race,” Vorpagel said. “I’m used to getting in and getting out and it being really quick. I never had to worry about pacing or anything. I could just go all out. The hardest part is right before the race when I think, ‘OK, I have to have strategy for this race, and I have to plan it out beforehand.'”
The men’s swimming and diving team has gotten off to a winning start this year. It is 3-1 in dual meets and placed third ofseven teams at the Georgia Tech Invitational. Vorpagel said he is happy with the team’s progress thus far. “This is probably the closest team that I’ve ever been a part of,” Vorpagel said. “Everybody gets along really well, and everyone works really hard. There’s a lot fewer negative attitudes this year, and everybody wants to do well. And everybody wants to improve.”
Teammate Stephen Mellor said Vorpagel’s attributes have been key components to the team’s success.
“[He has] passion, motivation, [and] just a 100-percent committed attitude that rubs off on every other guy on the team,” Mellor, a junior in communication, said. “Ever since day one, he’s really just slept and breathed and swam N.C. State. There isn’t a better team swimmer.”
While the “Vorpagel Revolution” signs have since disappeared from campus, the intentions of his posters are still somewhat mysterious. Maybe it was just an inside joke among Vorpagel’s friends and teammates, but maybe there was something more.
Whatever it was, Mellor said the movement has lost its vigor.
“All I know is that it was a very brief thing that sort of swept the campus by storm,” Mellor said. “I actually have a T-Shirt of the ‘Vorpagel Revolution,’ but as far as I’m aware, whatever it was is no longer.”
