Rietema Colwell, Betsy (2021)

Betsy Rietema Colwell, an Eagle Award winner, is a 2003 graduate of GRCH who played basketball, volleyball, and softball.  She was also Valedictorian of her class.

In basketball, the 6’1” point guard played for Coach Al VanDenBosch and was a four-year letter winner for the Eagles.  According to VanDenBosch, “Betsy was a complete player with the size and ability to handle the basketball.  In addition, she had a tremendous work ethic and knowledge of the game.  She was a great all-around student-athlete.”  Betsy was a four-time All-City selection, named to the All-Area Team three times, and was an All-State selection as a senior.  She posted a school record 38 points in a game as a sophomore and set a school record scoring 1,244 career points.  She was a McDonald’s All-American nominee in 2002.  During her high school career, the Eagles were City League Champions two years, District champions three years, and Regional champions in 2000.  Betsy was chosen team captain twice, voted by her teammates the best all-around offensive player each year, and MVP three times.

After graduation, Betsy attended Valparaiso University.   As a freshman she was named to the Mid-Continent Conference (Mid-Con) All-Newcomer Team.  In her sophomore season she was named to the Mid-Con All-Academic Team.  The Crusaders were Mid-Con Champs and advanced to the NCAA Tourney that year.  As a junior, Betsy’s teammates voted her the team’s Outstanding Offensive player, she was named to the Mid-Con All-Academic Team, and was a Second Team All-Conference selection.  She was also named to the 2006 Academic All-American Third Team.   The accolades continued her senior year as she was selected the Valpo MVP, was named a member of the All-Conference Team, and to the Academic All-District Team.  Betsy was also honored as an Academic All-American, one of just five in the country, and the first woman basketball player at Valpo to ever earn such an honor.

When she left Valparaiso, Rietema's name was littered across the career leaderboard, notably 6^th in points (1,276), 3rd in free throws attempted (480), 3rd in free throws made (341), 13th in rebounds (594) and 8th in steals (169).  

Even though college basketball consumed much of her time, Betsy excelled in the classroom.  She graduated with a double major in Psychology and Chemistry, a minor in Human Biology, and a GPA of 3.97.   Her teammates praised her for how she consistently set the standard high, both on and off the court.  She was a highly respected, hardworking athlete who was honored with the Laurel Award, an award given to the graduating student-athlete with the highest GPA at Valpo.

After Valparaiso, Betsy attended the Medical College of Wisconsin, graduated at the top of her class, and was inducted into AOA (Honors Medical Society).  She pursued a residency in Cardiothoracic Surgery, graduating from Stanford University School of Medicine in 2019.  Currently, Betsy is a MD specializing in Cardiothoracic surgery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Betsy and her husband Ryan Colwell have three children: Oliver, Benjamin and Samantha.

Betsy’s Favorite Scripture: Romans 12:6-8

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. 

If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith, if it is serving, then serve, if it is teaching, then teach…