After five years at Dartmouth, Ilsa Webeck '94 is still playing her heart out.
It paid off this Saturday when the women's basketball team defeated rival Harvard, 81-77. Webeck scored 20 points and brought down 10 rebounds, playing a crucial part in the Big Green's victory.
To nobody's surprise, Webeck was named Ivy Player of the Week.
"Being named Ivy Player of the Week is definitely an honor" Webeck said. "It's still the beginning of the season, and it's great to be playing well. After we played Harvard, I felt like my game was finally coming together."
Coach Chris Wielgus said Webeck deserved much of the credit for the Harvard win.
"Saturday's game against Harvard showed Ilsa's talent in being an inside player," Wielgus said. "Harvard plays a tough inside game, but the passing angles were there and Ilsa took advantage of them."
Webeck has had a successful season so far, leading the team in rebounding with 8.2 per game, and blocked shots, with 2.4 per game.
She is currently ranked 20th in the nation for blocked shots, with a total of 29.
"Ilsa is an extremely hard worker," Wielgus said. "Even at practice, she always plays like she does in games. She produces movement inside the key and also moves the ball really well."
Webeck redshirted the 1992-93 season, due to a foot injury that allowed her to play in only three games. She came back strong last year, however, earning honorable mention All-Ivy.
"Redshirting my junior year was a good decision," said Webeck. "I started playing basketball late in life (eighth grade), and it was nice to have another year to further develop my skills."
"It also allowed me some time to prepare myself for the future, and to apply to medical school. Besides that, it gave me a chance to enjoy another year at Dartmouth."
Dartmouth has sure enjoyed Webeck.
In the course of five years, Webeck has made her mark in the Dartmouth record books.
She is currently ranked 10th in scoring with 845 points, and she stands in fifth place in rebounds with 650. Webeck is in third place for blocked shots, with a total of 166.
"She's a smart player," boasted Wielgus. "She reads the pregame scouting reports and retains all the information. Then, in games, she is able to predict what the other team is going to do. She is constantly calling out to her teammates, and acts as the stimuli for a lot of what happens on the court."
Webeck said she looks at her final year of play as a last chance to go all the way.
"We really want to make NCAA's," she said. "But we have to reach smaller goals before that is achieved. First we have to win Ivies, and before that ... we have to play well together. We need to keep working hard no matter what."
Despite the accolades, Webeck remains modest and down to earth. She looks at her career in perspective, and takes one day at a time.
"Coach always says, 'disappointment is when reality fails to meet your expectations.' We have expectations for ourselves, and they are to play hard and do our best. It would be great to come away with championship, but the togetherness is really what matters most."
Spoken like a player with great talent, and a lot of heart. Spoken like Ilsa Webeck.
