Jillian Kraus is entering her second season with the UC Irvine women's water polo team. She was a member of the USA water polo squad after an extensive career at UCLA. Kraus helped the UCLA women's water polo team to four consecutive NCAA Championships, including the latest title in May 2008.
During the 2008 season, scored 57 goals on 141 attempts, with 41 steals and 10 assists as a defender. The 178 goals in her four seasons placed her as the fourth-highest career goals total in program history, according to the university. Kraus was named to the All-MPSF Academic Team for three straight years and was selected as the MPSF Co-player of the Year this season with teammate Courtney Mathewson. She was on the All-American First team.
She was a finalist for the 2008 Peter J. Cutino Award, which is presented annually to the outstanding female and male collegiate water polo players in the United States. Kraus and UCLA's national champion teams of 2007-2008 visited the White House Tuesday, June 24, 2008. She received a kiss on the cheek from President George Bush.
Between her college and high school careers, she was a gold medalist in the 2005 Junior World Championships.
Kraus was a four-year letterwinner in water polo and swimming at Foothill High School under coaches Dan Klatt and Dave Mikesell (water polo) and Jim Brumm (swimming). She served as water polo team captain in 2004 and earned MVP and scholar-athlete honors. Kraus captured CIF Division I co-Player of the Year and Sea View League Co-MVP honors in 2004, and also competed for the SoCal club team and the USA National Youth Team. She also earned All-CIF and All-Sea View League recognition in 2001, 2002 and 2003 along with being recognized as a CIF Scholar-Athlete each of her four years at Foothill, and was awarded the United States Army Reserve National Scholar-Athlete medal in 2004. In addition to her water polo accolades, she served as swim team captain in 2003, and qualified for the CIF Division I swim championships and finals in each of her four seasons. She earned All-Sea View League first-team accolades as a swimmer in 2004.
Her full name Jillian Amaris Kraus, born in Newport Beach, Calif. Her parents are Robert and Pamela Kraus, and she has two brothers, Chris and Jeremy, and one sister, Jennifer. After four years of college, Kraus graduated with a degree in political science. Her favorite quote is “Every day I’m hustlin” by rapper Rick Ross.
