Galen Broido was a member of the inaugural Women’s Swim Team at UNC Asheville, making a lasting impact after just her first season. She started swimming distance races her freshman year and has since developed as a distance swimmer with the young Bulldog program.
Background
Broido grew up in Hinesburg, Vermont with her parents and older sister. She started swimming at 13 years old for Green Mountain Aquatics. While she had a late start to the sport, Broido earned the Most Improved Award for three years straight. She was a captain for GMA both her junior and senior years of high school.
Broido attended Champlain Valley Union High School where she was a member of the National Honors Society, Key Club and the Buddy Program.
Freshman Year
At the 2012 Highlander Invitational, she dropped 6 seconds in the 500 freestyle, earning fifth place points. She placed sixth in the 200 backstroke and raced to a third place finish in the 400 IM. At the 2013 Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Conference Championships, Broido raced a personal best time in the 500 freestyle, dropping an additional 8 seconds for a ninth place finish. Her best time in the 400 IM was good enough for twelfth place points. Broido dropped 7 seconds in her 200 freestyle while leading off the 800 freestyle relay. Most notably, Broido put herself in the record books as the first and only Bulldog to make it to the podium at the CCSA Championships. She raced to a second place finish in the 1650 freestyle, dropping a total of 2 minutes throughout the whole season. Broido finished the year voted Swimmer of the Year, earning the Swim Team Academic Scholar-Athlete Award and with CCSA All-Academic Honors.
Sophomore Year
At the 2013 Highlander Invitational she placed fourth in the 500 freestyle, second in the 400 IM, third in the 200 freestyle, fourth in the 200 backstroke and second in the 1650 freestyle. At the 2014 CCSA Conference Championships, Broido was a member of the eighth place 800 freestyle relay team. She raced the 400 IM, 500 freestyle and 1650 freestyle. Throughout the season, she served as Secretary for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. She would finish the season with CCSA All-Academic Honors.
Junior Year
Broido was elected Captain for her junior year as a Bulldog. Broido earned third place points or better in the 500 freestyle at five dual meets. At the 2014 Wingate Winter Frenzy Invitational, Broido earned her first best time in two years, winning the 1650 freestyle with a time of 17:05.30. She was also a member of the 800 freestyle relay team. Broido served SAAC as Secretary for a second year. She was inducted into the Order of Pisgah and was a board member of the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee. Broido would finish the season with CCSA All-Academic Honors.
Senior Year
Broido continued to score points for the Blue and White in her specialty distance events at dual meets. She had an outstanding 2015 Georgia Tech Mid Season Invitational where she would race her fastest since her freshman Conference Championships. Her 1650 scored 12th place points. At the 2016 Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Conference Championships, Broido was a member of the Varsity Record setting 800 freestyle relay. She qualified for the B final in the 500 freestyle and scored 10th place points in the 400 IM. Broido swam a season best time in the 1650 and scored 9th place points for the Bulldogs.
Volunteering/Community Outreach
Rocky’s Readers
Future Bulldogs Program
Martin Luther King Jr Day of Service
Asheville City Half Marathon Water Station
Manna Food Bank Food Packaging Day
National Women and Girls in Sports Day
Top Times
200 Freestyle 1:53.34
500 Freestyle 5:01.09 (team record)
1000 Freestyle 10:22.26 (team record)
1650 Freestyle 17:05.30 (team record)
400 IM 4:29.86 (team record)
800 Freestyle Relay 7:32.59 (team record) Rulevich, Sanchez, Broido, van Dorsten
