ACADEMIC ALL-BIG TEN (2009-10 & 2008-09)
CAREER BESTS
Event | Score | Date | Event/Opponent |
1-Meter | 254.77 | 1/25/08 | West Chester |
3-Meter | 262.25 | 11/20/09 | Virginia |
2009-10 (JUNIOR YEAR): Media Guide Bio
Placed 28th in the three-meter (2:14.45, preliminary) and 36th in the one-meter (195.75, preliminary) at the Big Ten Championships (2/17-20) ... Strong at Ohio State (1/29-30), finishing third in the one-meter (219.95) and sixth in the three-meter (220.80, preliminary) ... Was fifth in the one-meter (228.85) and sixth in the three-meter (227.70) at the Pittsburgh Quad Meet (1/15-16) ... Competed in both the one-meter and three-meter at the prestigious Bulldog Invite (1/3-4), posting scores of 205.15 and 220.30, respectively ... Reached the finals of the three-meter at the Galbraith Invite, finishing sixth with a score of 234.80. Also competed in the one-meter ... Strongest meet came in the home opener vs. Virginia (11/20-21), winning the three-meter with a career best score of 262.25. Also came in second in the one-meter (244.35) ... Competed in both the one-meter (fifth, 247.57) and three-meter (seventh, 216.30) at Virginia Tech (10/31) ... Opened season at St. Bonaventure (10/13) with second-place finish in the three-meter (221.45) and fourth in the one-meter (220.42).
2008-09 (SOPHOMORE YEAR): Finished with eight top five finishes, led by a second-place finish in the three-meter springboard ... At the Tennessee Diving Invite, was 38th in both the one-meter (201.30, preliminary) and three-meter (195.70, preliminary) ... Was sixth in the three-meter (216.60) and 12th in the one-meter (193.25) at the Rutgers Gailbraith Invite ... Posted season best score in one-meter (214.43) at Southern Methodist, good for a third overall finish. Was also fifth in the three-meter (183.30) ... Was fourth in both the one-meter (168.90) and three-meter (184.50) at Texas A&M ... Season best score of 222.52 in the three-meter came in first home meet vs. Richmond, while also posting fifth overall score in the one-meter (206.92) ... In season-opener at West Virginia, finished second and third, respectively, in the three-meter (219.98) and one-meter (185.03) ... Named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree. 2007-08 (FRESHMAN YEAR): Contributed to diving's success shortly after joining the team ... Had several second-place finishes to lead the way for the Nittany Lions ... Score was good for 29th amongst the conference's one-meter springboard divers at the Big Ten Championships. On the three-meter board, placed 33rd ... For the season, received two second-place nods, both in the one-meter springboard to go along with four third-place marks ... Against West Virginia, took third in the three-meter with a score of 237 ... Posted personal second-best score at the Penn State Quad Meet ... Scored 182.05 on the three-meter springboard at the prestigious Georgia Diving Invite ... Earned first-career second placing at Pittsburgh's quad meet ... Had personal best score (249.75) in the Princeton Invitational, coming in third in the preliminary heat ... Dove best one-meter score (254.77) versus West Chester, coming in second. HIGH SCHOOL: Was on the diving team for four years at Lower Moreland High School in Huntingdon Valley, Pa. ... Was also on the tennis team ... Team captain senior year ... Was a three-time district champion sophomore through senior seasons and also finished third at districts as a freshman ... Improved at states in each of her four years, culminating with a second-place finish senior year ... Finished fourth at states as a junior, 10th as a sophomore and 15th as a freshman ... Was on the honor roll all four years ... Member of the National Honor Society ... Graduated in the top 10 of her class and was a scholar athlete as a senior ... Was named Female Student Athlete of the Year as both a junior and senior. PERSONAL: Full name is Ilana Jessica Zeises ... Born on November 4, 1988 in Philadelphia, Pa. ... The daughter of Richard and Andrea Zeises ... Has two older sisters, Farah (29), who was also a college diver, and Lisa (26), who also attended Penn State ... Majoring in bioengineering. ON CHOOSING PENN STATE: 'I chose Penn State for the combination of the great athletics and academics.' GETTING TO KNOW ILANA
Major & Why: Bioengineering. I like to solve puzzles.
Favorite Thing About Penn State: The school spirit
Favorite Thing About State College: Everything is Penn State
Favorite Restaurant In State College: Irvings
Favorite Penn State Sport Other Than Swimming: Tennis
Favorite Athletic Memory At Penn State: Big Ten Championships
Favorite Class At Penn State: O Chem 2
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Movie: The Guardian
Favorite TV Show: Lost
Favorite Pro Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Childhood Idol: Older sisters
Hobbies: Being with friends, reading
Most Prized Possession: My dog
Place I'd Like To Visit: Spain
If I Had $1Billion, I Would: Travel the world
After Penn State, I Would Like To: Go to medical school