Kaila Umbarger Shines in the Swimming Pool at Keene State

Standout swimmer Kaila Umbarger, a sophomore at Keene State College, just rounded out her second season for the Owls at the D- III NCAA tournament in Knoxville, Tennessee. Umbarger came home with two All-American titles.

“I had a great first few days. I got All American in the 50 free; I got fifth, and my (200 medley) relay team placed 8^th,” said Umbarger. “(On Thursday) I swam the 100 fly, and got Honorary All-American and I swam a personal best time. And my relay team made it to finals for the 400 medley relay."

On Saturday, Umbarger beat her seed time by two spots, and placed 13^th in the 100 free.

“(Kaila’s season has) been great,” said Keene State Head Coach Jack Fabian. “She qualified for NCAAs with automatic times in the 50 free and 100 free, and she also had a very fast 100 fly, too. 

A former athlete, Umbarger used to swim for Harriet Kinnett, Josh Blagg, and Tom Rice. Now, just over two years later, she has become a nationally ranked athlete in Division III.

Currently, Umbarger holds the school record for Keene in the 50 free (23.66), 100 free (52.21), and the 50 fly (24.98). In addition, she is a member of four school record holding relay teams. The 400 medley (3:53.84), 200 medley (1:45.49), 400 free relay (3:32.67), and the 200 free relay (1:36.89) teams have all set records in the 2010 season.

Individually, Umbarger also holds several records for the LEC (Little East Conference) meet.

“She broke the 100 free record… (and) that record was probably as old as her.  I think every event she swam in at the conference meet, she set a meet record. That’s pretty phenomenal,” said Fabian.

After the LEC meet, Umbarger was awarded conference athlete of the week. Fabian said that Umbarger was a huge contribution in the team’s Conference victory.

“Basically, we were behind, and when she swam, we won. She had several remarkable relays, and we ended up beating Bentley.  She’s really a team player,” said Fabian.

Umbarger’s key to success is consistent hard work. During the summer, she works as a swim coach at , and trains at the pool in the Westford gym. She also supplements her swimming with dancing and cardio running.

“At Russell Mill, I train other people, and I think that helps my training. Helping other people improve (helps me to improve as well). I run a lot, and I also like to dance. I feel like a lot of things with swimming relate to dance,” said Umbarger.

“Over (winter) break, I go to Keene, and I just swim three times a day. That’s usually when I take a big turn, I just feel myself getting a lot stronger," she said.

“Kaila is very confident as an individual. She’s very physically strong and fit, she comes into the season fit. She’s got really good posture, in the water that makes a big difference,” said Fabian.

Umbarger joined the team as a good swimmer her freshman year, and with focused training and technique, she’s blossomed into a great athlete very quickly.  

“She had some decent times, but nothing that great. Now she’s competitive at the national level in every event she swims in.  Kaila is one of the best swimmers in the country in D- III,” said Fabian.

The future looks bright for Umbarger; she’s already earned All-American awards as a sophomore. Umbarger and Fabian both feel that with good training and hard work, Umbarger may be able to add National Champion to her swimming resume before she graduates college.

“She has the potential to be a national champion at some point before she graduates. She’s working her way towards that. This (year at nationals) Kaila has established herself as one of the best 50 freestylers around. She’s got a shot at winning it,” said Fabian.