2016-17: Big Ten Distinguished Scholar... Academic All-Big Ten... Ritsema competed primarily in the 100 backstroke... posted season-best times in the 100 (57.94) and 50 free (24.75) at the Ohio State Winter Invite... qualified for the B final of both backstroke events at Ohio State, posting a time of 2:11.50 in the 200 back... season best in the 200 back was at Virginia Tech's H2Okie Fall Invitational, where she also broke one minute with a time of 59.01 in the 100 back... swam the leadoff leg on Purdue's 200 medley relay team that finished as the runner-up at Ohio State.
2015-16: Big Ten Distinguished Scholar... Academic All-Big Ten... Ritsema competed primarily in the 50 free and 100 back... posted season-best times in the 50 free (24.18) and 200 back (2:10.69) at the Purdue Invitational... had her season-best time in the 100 back (57.57) at the Ohio State Winter Invite... swam the leadoff leg on the victorious 200 medley relay team at Ohio State... also qualified for the A finals of the 50 free and 100 back individually at OSU... finished third in the D final of the 100 back at the Purdue Invitational.
2014-15: Distinguished Big Ten Scholar... Ritsema competed in the freestyle sprints and 100 backstroke... posted season-best times in the 100 free (53.39) and 100 back (57.41) at the Ohio State Winter Invite... won the 50 free with a time of 24.05, was the runner-up in the 100 back and swam the leadoff leg for the victorious 400 free relay team at Ohio State in February... star recruiter award winner... qualified for the B finals of the 50 free and 100 back at the Ohio State Invitational, posting her season-best time in the 50 free (23.96).
2013-14: Ritsema competed in the freestyle sprints... posted season-best times in the 50 (24.42) and 100 free (54.55) at the Boiler-Make-It NCAA Last Chance meet... made her collegiate debut in the dual meet victory at Hawaii... part of the travel roster for the dual meet at Indiana, competing the 50 and 100 free.
Before Purdue: Ritsema was a four-year varsity letter-winner for coach Mike Torrey... was also an accomplished water polo player... All-American and Academic All-American as a senior year team captain... four-time all-state honoree... conference champion in the 50 free as a sophomore... helped ZEHS finish fourth at the Michigan state meet her senior year and win conference titles... championship final qualifier at the 2012 Michigan long course state meet in the 50 free with her West Michigan Swimmers club team... academic all-state honoree for the water polo team... helped water polo place fifth at state as a junior.
Personal: Full name is Leah Rae Ritsema... born in Holland, Mich.... parents are Tim and Amy Ritsema... family also includes younger brother Ben... mother (swimming) and father (track and field) both competed in sports at Hope College; father is current athletic director at Zeeland East High School... majoring in organizational leadership and supervision.
Purdue Personal Preferences
Favorite Pro Team: New York Yankees
Favorite Aquatic Center (Other Than Purdue): Ohio State
Diver She'd Like to Compete Against: Steele Johnson
Favorite Playoff Format: NCAA Basketball Tournament
Would Like to Have Dinner With: Ellen DeGeneres
Unique Skill/Hidden Talent: Napping in Public Places
In Her MP3 Player: Twenty One Pilots
Last Concert She Attended: Smallpools & Machine Heart
Favorite Social Media Platform: Instagram
Favorite Author: J.K. Rowling
Last Book She Read: Golden Sun
Favorite Actor & Actress: Zac Efron & Keira Knightley
Favorite Movie to Watch on Team Bus: She's The Man
Favorite Sci-Fi Series: Harry Potter
Favorite TV Show: New Girl
Favorite Month: May
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Favorite Food/Meal: Bread
Favorite Dessert: Ice Cream
Favorite Big City: Grand Rapids, Mich.
Unique Travel Locale: Hawaii
Country She'd Most Like to Visit: The Netherlands
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Going To The Beach
Favorite Purdue Building: The Union
Another Sport She Enjoys Playing: Water Polo
Favorite Thing About the Boilermaker Aquatic Center: Fueling Station
Most Memorable Meet at Purdue: 2014 Ohio State Invitational
Enjoyed this Professor's Class: Linda Naimi, Technology
Furry Friend: Norman, Mixed-Breed Dog
Other Hobbies/Interests: Obsessively Watching The Office