Scholar Stories: Umlauf's Five-Year Journey of Grit, Growth, Giving Back
4/2/2025 10:41:00 AM | Water Polo
Continuing the series that began in 2016-17, each week MGoBlue.com will highlight a Michigan student-athlete and their academic pursuits. These are our Scholar-Athlete Stories, presented by Absopure.
By Louisa Lynn
When Kasey Umlauf joined the University of Michigan's water polo team five years ago, she did not have a flashy recruitment story or a set-in-stone career path. What she knew was that she wanted to play water polo and pursue a career in STEM. Michigan could offer her the best of both worlds: elite academics and competitive athletics. She did not expect how much the team would mean to her and the passion she would find in epigenetics.
"I started playing water polo when I was 15," Umlauf said. "I had grown up playing basketball and briefly thought I'd become an Olympic swimmer after watching the 2012 Olympics -- but that didn't last long."
It was not until a friend brought her to a water polo tryout that Umlauf found herself hooked. She continued playing through high school in Illinois -- which she joked was "not exactly a water polo hotbed."
By her senior year, she was unsure what her next move would be but knew she wanted to challenge herself and get the most out of her college experience.
"I got into Michigan on my own and was in talks with the coach, but it was the middle of COVID and everything was upside down," Umlauf said. "I just took a leap of faith. I didn't want to sacrifice my academics or athletics. I wanted both."
Five years later, Umlauf has been named a team captain and is a conference champion, a Master's student in human genetics and a beloved role model for her teammates.
However, her path was anything but linear.
A spirit of persistence and team-first energy defined her early years on the team, but as she got closer to her junior season, it was not easy for Umlauf to put in the hours without seeing game-time results.
"My junior year, I realized I wasn't going to travel again," she explains. "I hit a crossroads -- I could walk away or keep going."
She chose to redshirt her junior year, betting on herself for a larger role in her senior year and eventual fifth year.
When she was named captain in her fifth year, the title felt like a formality.
When asked what she loves most about Michigan water polo, Umlauf did not hesitate.
"The best part is my teammates," she said.
Whether on the team porch hanging out or snowball fights after beating Ohio State, her favorite memories have little to do with wins and everything to do with connection.
"If I hadn't come back this year, I wouldn't know our freshman class; I wouldn't know my roommate. And those relationships have become so important to me," Umlauf said.
Even in her early days, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, those bonds kept her grounded.
"We couldn't hang out with anyone outside the team," Umlauf said. "The team was everything. And the seniors and grad students back then -- they were so professional. They carried themselves with pride and purpose. That left a huge impression on me."
As a captain, she is trying to pass that legacy forward.
"I lead by example," Ulauf said. "I hold myself to a higher standard than anyone else because that's how you earn respect. You can't ask someone to do something you're not willing to do."
While navigating her athletic journey, she was building a deeply impressive academic one. She earned her undergraduate degree in neuroscience, though that path was not clear at first, either.
"I came in thinking something psych or 'sciencey,' so I started as a Biopsych, Cognition, and Neuroscience major, then switched to just neuroscience sophomore year," Umlauf said. "But really, I was just exploring."
She soon discovered a fascination with genetics, especially epigenetics and how the environment influences gene expression. That interest blossomed into a full-blown research pursuit.
"I started working in a lab that studies CHARGE syndrome -- a rare genetic disorder -- in collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics and Genetics," Umlauf said.
Her project is understanding how a single protein mutation affects inner-ear development and balance in children with the disorder.
"We study how the protein affects the semicircular canals, the structures that help you sense rotation," Umlauf said. "These kids often have defects there, so we're trying to figure out why."
That research, launched during undergrad and carried through her master's program, was why she applied to grad school at Michigan -- wanting to explore genetics more.
Umlauf is now on the research track for a Master of Science in human genetics. Her program is small and flexible, making it easier to balance school and sports.
"There's less memorization, more interactive learning with a lot of presenting, reading scientific papers and critical thinking," she said.
Umlauf is considering medical school in the future but is taking a gap year to gain clinical experience and reflect.
"I've done a lot of the prep work, but after five years of school, I am ready for a break," she said.
With the Wolverines sporting a new starting lineup this season, the learning curve has been steep.
"Seven of the eight players in my class graduated, so we're all figuring it out together, but the chemistry is strong, and we're playing for each other," Umlauf said.
For Umlauf, this year is not about rewriting the past or chasing perfection -- it's about going out on her terms.
"Even at the end of last season, I wasn't sure if I had one more in me, but I didn't want to leave feeling like I didn't give it everything," she said. "I wanted to walk away proud."
As her final season winds down, Umlauf is focused on making every moment count.
"Our goal is to win a conference championship, but we want to do it in a way that we're proud of," she said.
Umlauf's teammates look up to her -- she brings dedication and motivation to her teammates but also a sense of understanding and advice.
"It's been a lot of pain and struggle at times, but I needed that," she said. "I chose to be out of my depth because that's how you grow."
From bench mob captain to team leader, from general education classes to cutting-edge genetics research, Umlauf's Michigan journey is a testament to grit, curiosity, and a deep love for her team and her commitment to academics.
"When I look back, I won't have any unanswered questions," she said. "I gave it everything."
• Scholar Stories Home
