ISU freshman gymnast Angie Umbraugh comes to the Cyclones with the experience of a champion.

Umbraugh, an Ames native who has been practicing gymnastics for 12 years, has been named the Iowa Gymnast of the Year by the United States Gymnastic Federation (USGF).

“It was an awesome way to end my club career,” Umbraugh said.

Her former club coach and current ISU assistant gymnastics coach, K.J. Kindler, said that in order to receive this award, a gymnast must make significant athletic contributions to the state.

The gymnast is nominated by the USGF. Then, professional members in the state of Iowa vote on the nominees. This year Umbraugh was voted victorious.

In her club career, Umbraugh was a five-time state champion, a five-time regional qualifier and a four-time national qualifier.

“We were excited. She did a lot of great things last year,” Kindler said. “We thought she deserved it more than anyone else on the ballot.”

She described Umbraugh as a “very dedicated and driven athlete” who always “puts forth that little extra effort.”

After being recruited by various other programs, including the nation’s number 1-ranked UCLA, Umbraugh signed with ISU in the early signing last November.

“I’ve wanted to go to Iowa State since I was little,” she said. “I wanted to go to a team where I knew I could help out.”

She said that when she went to Beyer Hall to work out with the club team, she really liked the ISU team’s environment.

Umbraugh said that everyone seemed positive and “all the girls seemed to get along so well and all appeared so driven to do well.”

And she said she is pleased with the decision and likes her teammates, whom she referred to as a “huge family.”

Amy Pyle, Cyclone coach, said that they were happy to have recruited one of best. “We feel she’s one of the most talented gymnasts in the country.”

She said that Umbraugh has the ability to jump incredibly high with incredible speed. She also said that the freshman is “very mature as far as performing goes” and knows how to play to the crowd which is “what sells” at the collegiate level.

Umbraugh said, “I love being out there and on the floor showing everyone what I can do. I just love gymnastics. Once you get [to a certain level], you want more and more and more.”

Already, she said she has set goals for herself and the other Cyclone tumblers. Her personal collegiate goal is to become a Big 12 champion. As for the team, Umbraugh said, “We’re going to nationals.”