Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In 2016, Florida went to Mississippi for a weekend Southeastern Conference softball series. The Rebels came into the first game leading the league in stolen bases.

By the third inning of the first game, UF catcher Aubree Munro had gunned two Ole Miss runners on attempted steals and saw off another baserunner with a pickoff at third base. 

The Rebels didn't attempt another steal the rest of the series (which the Gators swept, by the way).

Munro, out of Brea, Calif., is one of the greatest players to ever come through Coach Tim Walton's program — and the on-field stuff only tells part of the story. Understand, first of all, Munro was not a big-time offensive weapon. Understand, also, that she didn't need to be. Not with her skills and savvy behind the plate — Munro had a near-perfect defensive career at UF — and ability to get the most out of the likes of Hannah Rogers, Lauren Haeger, Aleshia Ocasio and Delanie Gourley in the circle. 

And then there was her people-person skills, locker room presence and classroom achievements as a four-time selection to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. 

Left this sink in: Munro was voted captain her 2013 freshman year. It got better. For her and the Gators.

In 2014, UF won its first Women's College World Series, then in 2015 repeated for back-to-back titles. That season, Munro did not commit a single error on the season. That would be eye-popping stuff were it not for the fact she's committed just four — 4! — during her career. 

Before even kneeling behind the plate for her 2016 senior year, Munro survived a tryout for Team USA and has been playing with the squad and representing her country since. 

She'll go to Japan not only as a true ambassador for the game. Red, white and blue, but also orange and blue, through and through. 
AT A GLANCE
 

SPORT: Softball  

HOW SHE QUALIFIED: Munro was invited to Team USA tryout in January of 2016, her senior year, and was selected to the squad in what was a non-Olympic year. When softball was added to the Olympics slate, Team USA reconfigured its roster in 2019 and brought in some older, veteran players (like 37-year-old pitcher Cat Osterman), but Munro's place on the team stuck. She's made playing with the squad the last five years.   

TOKYO SCHEDULE: July 21 — Tournament play begins. July 27 — Gold medal game at  gold at Yokohama Baseball Stadium.

UF CAREER: She batted .251 with eight homers and 73 RBI over her four seasons, but Munro's worth to the program was not with the bat. It was (as detailed above) with her work behind the plate, helping groom a stellar pitching staff, and helping set Walton's trademark defense. 

NEED TO KNOW: Munro is an avid hunter, an activity she lists on her Team USA bio page among her favorite past times, along with going to the beach and binging shows on Netflix. 
 
QUOTE OF NOTE: "I had the career of a lifetime at Florida, but making this team is really special. It's not just my dream, but my family's dream." — Munro


Previously: "Gators in the Olympics" Series
June 26: Cory McGee  
June 27: Michelle Moultrie 
June 28: Natalie Hinds 
June 29: Adriana Leon
June 30: Enzo Martinez-Scarpe
July 1: Kieran Smith 
July 2: Genevieve LaCaze Gregson
July 3: Will Claye 
July 4: Mark Kolozsvary
July 5: Marife Torres