The CMS-ence of Savannah Green
CLAREMONT, Calif. - As a regular member of the starting catcher platoon for the CMS softball team over the last four years, Savannah Green has had a key supportive role in helping the Athenas' pitching staff achieve numerous individual accolades, including back-to-back SCIAC Pitcher of the Year honors for Anna Gurr in 2017 and 2018, and a Newcomer of the Year honor for Lauren Richards last year.
Green was able to use a little of that same supportive mindset, as well as her academic experiences as an international relations and economics major at Claremont McKenna, at her House of Representatives internship in Washington, D.C. last summer. She worked behind the scenes for Congressman Daniel Webster (Fla.) as a legislative intern, listening to consistiuents' concerns and composing response letters on behalf of Congressman Webster to highlight his stance on legislation. It was perhaps the same sort of skill with diplomatic dialogue that served her well in her discussions with home plate umpires over her college career.
On campus, Green was a member of the College Programming Board all four years, displaying some of the leadership and organizational skill that earned her that Washington, D.C. internship. She was responsible for managing a $65,000 budget to organize dry events in an effort to help the student body build relationships outside of sports, clubs, and academics.
We asked Green a few questions about her experience as a CMS student-athlete below.
Q: What does it take to be a successful softball catcher?
Green: The most important part of being a good catcher is having trust in your pitcher and continuing to grow their confidence especially in tense situations. Having a younger pitching staff this year in particular meant that I worked hard to stay level-headed and calm regardless of the situation and allow the pitcher to do what they do best, spin the ball. Additionally, I am in constant communication with the umpire. I believe I have been able to get significantly more calls when I am able to build rapport with the umpire and understand the aspects of the strike zone that might be more malleable.
Q: How exciting was it to be able to play an NCAA Regional on your home field?
Green: It was absolutely amazing to be able to host the NCAA Regional Tournament, and I am positive we would have done it again this year had we been given the chance. Sleeping in your own bed, getting ready in your locker room, defending your field, and enjoying your fans in a high-stakes, energizing game is an unparalleled experience, and I am so grateful I was able to experience it during my time at CMS.
Q: How did you spend your summer vacation?
Green: I spent the summer interning for Congressman Daniel Webster in Washington, DC. I had never been to DC before, so simply being in the city was a dream come true. I was fortunate enough to live walking-distance from work and my office allowed interns to be very hands-on and involved in constituent work, attending important meetings, and conversing directly with Congressman Webster.
Q: What else have you been involved in on campus outside of sports?
Green: I have been involved in CPB for my entire tenure at CMC. I was also an RA for the last year and was fortunate enough to study abroad in Freiburg, Germany in the Fall of 2018. Each of these experiences in addition to my time with softball have forced me to grow and gain more confidence in myself on the individual level and as a leader.
Q: What was the topic of your senior thesis?
Green: I wrote my thesis about the rise of Right-Wing Populism in Germany specifically looking after WWII up to present day. While I was studying abroad in Germany, I witnessed several rallies for the AfD in their plight to gain seats in the German Parliament and since then, they have grown increasingly larger throughout the state. I found this to be particularly interesting and decided to dive deeper to discover the underlying factors that have created this rise throughout the last few decades.
Q: What has being an Athena meant to you?
Green: Being an Athena means holding my head high, trusting in my training, persevering with my teammates, and enjoying the collective dedication every CMS athlete holds. My CMS family is the most loyal, supportive, hard-working group of people I have ever been a part of, and I am glad to know that they will continue to be a community for me even now that my softball career is over.