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College Park swimmer breaks record set by Olympic champ
  
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By HOWARD RODEN
College Park freshman Gray Umbach swam a national record time for his age group in the 200-yard individual medley Nov. 22 and the record he broke belonged to none other than Olympic great Michael Phelps.
Competing in the finals of the Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association’s Gulf Zone Championship, the 14-year-old Umbach won the event in a time of 1:51.64, more than two seconds ahead of Atascocita’s Collin Kaden.
Umbach’s time was a pool record at the Conroe Independent School District’s new natatorium — one of 26 set that day at the facility during the meet. After a little research it was learned Umbach shaved 0.28 seconds off the USA Swimming-sanctioned record time of 1:51.92 for boys age 13-14.
Phelps, who captured a record eight gold medals this summer at the Beijing Olympics, set the age-group record back in 2000.
“I’m extremely excited about setting the record,” Umbach said. “He is a great swimmer and a great inspiration. I feel honored that I came anywhere near that time.”
Umbach, who later won the boys 100-yard backstroke in a pool-record time of 51.81, said he had no premonition that he would produce such a performance. He led qualifying with a 1:53.53.
“When I swim I try to think as little as possible,” Umbach said. “When I do, I start feeling the pain in my muscles.
“During the last 50 yards I wasn’t sure how I was fairing. I just kept swimming as fast as I could.”
Sara Bany, Umbach’s coach at College Park, said her freshman swimmer had been dropping times throughout the season.
“We felt he was capable of doing something like this,” she said. “He wasn’t wearing any fancy swimming suit. He wore just a regular Speedo.”
Umbach has been swimming competitively the past eight years as a member of The Woodlands Swim Team, winning in statewide meets throughout that period.
“He works really hard,” said Steven Umbach, Gray’s father. “He’s very focused and he’s improved incrementally.”
The national scholastic record of 1:46.31 for the 200 IM was established in 2004 by Brandon Ally of Florida. The Class 5A University Interscholastic League time of 1:46.95 was posted this year by Matt Thompson of Dallas Jesuit.
“I’m very happy. I just want to thank all my coaches (at College Park and The Woodlands Swim Team),” Umbach said. “I know I still have plenty of work ahead of me.”
Umbach was among a handful of CISD swimmers and divers who established pool record times during the meet. Senior Kelsey Amundsen of The Woodlands won the girls 50 freestyle (23.58) and the 100 butterfly (56.36), while teammate Liz Nelson won the 500 freestyle (4:55.37) after setting the pool record of 4:54.63 in the prelims.
College Park’s Liz Nelson turned in a pool-record time of 1:52.60 to win the 200 freestyle.
After finishing second to Spring’s Kaylea Arnett in the one meter springboard, The Woodlands’ Amanda Largent captured the three meter title with 260 points.
In the boys division, Highlander senior Michael McBroom set a pool record of 4:33.7 in the 500 freestyle. He was followed in the event by College Park’s Stephen Carroll (4:38.61).
The Woodlands’ overall depth was evident by the boys’ team victory over Kingwood (331-314). Kingwood edged out the Lady Highlanders (414-408) for the team title, while College Park placed fifth (155 points).
“I swam some people in positions I don’t normally swim,” Woodlands coach Kent Kirchner said. “The kids swam their best and we did pretty doggone good. Kelsey and Michael turned in strong performances and our relays also were strong.
“Like I said, it’s not how you start (the season) it’s how you finish. I’m proud of how they performed.”
In all, 48 schools with 595 swimmers and divers participated in the TISCA zone championship.
“If this is a sign of things to expect at the CISD Natatorium, it is going to be the hottest ticket in the state to watch the fastest high school swimming and diving competition — next to the state championship,” said Sam Fruia, the natatorium’s coordinator.
Competing in the finals of the Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association’s Gulf Zone Championship, the 14-year-old Umbach won the event in a time of 1:51.64, more than two seconds ahead of Atascocita’s Collin Kaden.
Umbach’s time was a pool record at the Conroe Independent School District’s new natatorium — one of 26 set that day at the facility during the meet. After a little research it was learned Umbach shaved 0.28 seconds off the USA Swimming-sanctioned record time of 1:51.92 for boys age 13-14.
Phelps, who captured a record eight gold medals this summer at the Beijing Olympics, set the age-group record back in 2000.
“I’m extremely excited about setting the record,” Umbach said. “He is a great swimmer and a great inspiration. I feel honored that I came anywhere near that time.”
Umbach, who later won the boys 100-yard backstroke in a pool-record time of 51.81, said he had no premonition that he would produce such a performance. He led qualifying with a 1:53.53.
“When I swim I try to think as little as possible,” Umbach said. “When I do, I start feeling the pain in my muscles.
“During the last 50 yards I wasn’t sure how I was fairing. I just kept swimming as fast as I could.”
Sara Bany, Umbach’s coach at College Park, said her freshman swimmer had been dropping times throughout the season.
“We felt he was capable of doing something like this,” she said. “He wasn’t wearing any fancy swimming suit. He wore just a regular Speedo.”
Umbach has been swimming competitively the past eight years as a member of The Woodlands Swim Team, winning in statewide meets throughout that period.
“He works really hard,” said Steven Umbach, Gray’s father. “He’s very focused and he’s improved incrementally.”
The national scholastic record of 1:46.31 for the 200 IM was established in 2004 by Brandon Ally of Florida. The Class 5A University Interscholastic League time of 1:46.95 was posted this year by Matt Thompson of Dallas Jesuit.
“I’m very happy. I just want to thank all my coaches (at College Park and The Woodlands Swim Team),” Umbach said. “I know I still have plenty of work ahead of me.”
Umbach was among a handful of CISD swimmers and divers who established pool record times during the meet. Senior Kelsey Amundsen of The Woodlands won the girls 50 freestyle (23.58) and the 100 butterfly (56.36), while teammate Liz Nelson won the 500 freestyle (4:55.37) after setting the pool record of 4:54.63 in the prelims.
College Park’s Liz Nelson turned in a pool-record time of 1:52.60 to win the 200 freestyle.
After finishing second to Spring’s Kaylea Arnett in the one meter springboard, The Woodlands’ Amanda Largent captured the three meter title with 260 points.
In the boys division, Highlander senior Michael McBroom set a pool record of 4:33.7 in the 500 freestyle. He was followed in the event by College Park’s Stephen Carroll (4:38.61).
The Woodlands’ overall depth was evident by the boys’ team victory over Kingwood (331-314). Kingwood edged out the Lady Highlanders (414-408) for the team title, while College Park placed fifth (155 points).
“I swam some people in positions I don’t normally swim,” Woodlands coach Kent Kirchner said. “The kids swam their best and we did pretty doggone good. Kelsey and Michael turned in strong performances and our relays also were strong.
“Like I said, it’s not how you start (the season) it’s how you finish. I’m proud of how they performed.”
In all, 48 schools with 595 swimmers and divers participated in the TISCA zone championship.
“If this is a sign of things to expect at the CISD Natatorium, it is going to be the hottest ticket in the state to watch the fastest high school swimming and diving competition — next to the state championship,” said Sam Fruia, the natatorium’s coordinator.
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