« Softball 2011

Stephanie Brombacher

School
University of Florida
Position
Pitcher
Major
Health Education and Behavior
ERA
1.08
W-L
17-2

Classroom

A leader not only on the field, Brombacher has established herself a success in the classroom as well. She maintains a 3.55 GPA in health education and behavior. Brombacher was named a 2009 and 2010 third-team All-America selection by ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA and has twice been named an ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District III first-team selection. Additionally, she has appeared on the SEC Academic honor roll list all three years of her tenure.

Character

Despite playing behind All-American and U.S. National Team member Stacey Nelson for two years, Brombacher took on a leadership role off the playing field for the Gators, one of the most important characteristics to a true leader at Florida. Currently Florida’s winningest pitcher, Brombacher has also encouraged team involvement on campus and in the community. For the second-consecutive year, the team was awarded the Athletic Association’s Life Skills cup last fall. A competition between each of the University’s athletic teams, the overall award takes into account involvement on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Goodwill Gators (community outreach), workshops, presentations and support for other teams. Having an outstanding leader like Brombacher makes the Gators squad that much stronger, both on and off the field.

Community

Throughout her time in Gainesville, Brombacher has donated her time and energy off the field where she is needed. As a sophomore, Brombacher and the Gators created, organized and publicized the Swing for Cancer event, which gave fans a chance to watch Florida student-athletes and coaches try to hit against Florida’s All-American pitchers while raising money for cancer initiatives. Additionally, Brombacher participated in the school’s Climb for Cancer sport camps, an event in which children diagnosed with cancer come to UF for the day to play with current and former Gators. In 2009, she helped research and implement a plan to “adopt” a 13-year-old girl with a brain tumor through the Friends of Jacyln Foundation. Brombacher, head coach Tim Walton and the Gators regularly make and will continue to make weekly visits to Shands Hospital, mentoring and developing close relationships with patients. She also participates in Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics activities and Miracle on Main Street, where low-income families are able to “shop” for holiday gifts using tickets and coupons in downtown Gainesville.

Competition

Brombacher, Florida’s winningest pitcher at 77-8 (.906), holds the UF record for highest winning percentage in a season and career. The senior hurler has helped lead the Gators to three-consecutive Women’s College World Series appearances, Florida’s only three WCWS showings in program history, including a spot in the championship series in 2009. Brombacher was a 2009 and 2010 NFCA/Louisville Slugger All-American and All-Southeast Region selection, as well as a 2009 Easton All-American. She’s additionally been selected to the all-SEC team all three seasons as a Gator. She remains the only pitcher in school history to start a career with more than 10 victories without suffering a loss and she ranks on 26 of Florida’s career pitching top-10 lists. Brombacher threw Florida’s fourth-ever perfect game against USF March 25, 2010, pitched a no-hitter against Coastal Carolina in 2009, has pitched seven career one-hitters and collaborated for two combined pitching no-hitters in 2010 against South Carolina and North Florida.