Karoline Leavitt made history as the White House’s next press secretary but had a sporting background before she decided to make the move into politics

Karoline Leavitt attended Saint Anselm College on a softball scholarship(Image: Getty Images)

Long before Karoline Leavitt made history as the youngest White House press secretary ever at 27, she was already making waves on the softball field at Saint Anselm College. This revelation comes as she recently made a significant shift during a press conference.

During her first two seasons at the private Benedictine liberal arts college in Goffstown, New Hampshire, Leavitt shone as an outfielder and designated player for the Hawks. In her rookie year in 2016, she accumulated 22 hits, 14 RBIs, and three home runs – tying for the third-highest total on the team – while maintaining a 220 batting average and 360 slugging percentage over 36 games.

The following season saw Leavitt participate in 19 games – starting in 14 of them – posting. 159/213/250 stats along with two doubles, one triple, three RBIs, and eight runs scored.

Her most notable individual performance came against Bridgeport in March 2017, when she had a 2-for-4 game featuring two doubles and a pair of RBIs.

Leavitt, who secured her place at Saint Anselm through a softball scholarship, also excelled academically, earning dean’s list and honor roll accolades during her freshman and sophomore years.

In 2017, she founded the campus’s first student-led broadcasting organization, which covered regional sports and university events.

During her 2022 run for a seat in the US House of Representatives representing New Hampshire’s 1st district, Leavitt shared with a county Republican group a pivotal realization from her past.

“I quickly learned it wasn’t athletics I was interested in. It was politics, public service, news,” Leavitt disclosed about her shift in focus.

Leavitt’s resume boasts internships at ABC’s WMUR-TV, FOX News, and a notable stint in the White House under Donald Trump, where she crafted letters for the president.

Karoline Leavitt played softball for two years at Saint Anselm College(Image: SAINT ANSELM HAWKS)

Post-graduation in 2019 with a degree in communication and politics, Leavitt briefly served as a presidential speechwriter before being promoted to assistant press secretary, working alongside Kayleigh McEnany.

“I was immediately impressed by her evident drive and her genuinely positive demeanor,” McEnany praised when speaking to AP journalists Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville. “Karoline is sharp, professional, and enterprising, and I knew that I wanted to hire her on the spot.”

After Trump’s presidency, Leavitt continued her political communications career, taking up the mantle as communications director for New York’s GOP Representative Elise Stefanik.

Earlier this year in January, Leavitt joined Trump’s team as the national press secretary for his presidential campaign. Following Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in the November election, she was appointed as the White House press secretary.

“Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator,” Trump praised. “I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the American people as we Make America Great Again.”