Harvard University Brings in Five Women's Water Polo Recruits for Class of 2015

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The Harvard University women’s water polo team adds five members to the team from the class of 2015. The three attackers and two goalies hail from California, Colorado and Florida.

"I am thrilled with the class of 2015, each of these young women have worked hard in the pool and in the classroom," head coach Ted Minnis said. "They add great depth and skill to the team, and I am excited to work with them. They will help us achieve our goals in the pool and in the community immediately."

The Crimson recorded a 17-15 overall record this spring and posted its best finish at the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Eastern Championship, sixth, since 2005. Twelve members of this year’s squad return for the 20011-12 season, including All-America selection Devan Kennifer.

Ariel Dukes (Winter Park, Fla./Winter Park)
Three-time varsity letterwinner in swimming and water polo … Started in goal for three years … Captained water polo team as a senior …  Earned first-team All-Central Florida as a senior after earned second-team honors as a sophomore … An All Metro water polo team selection as a senior … Named second team NISCA All-America as a junior … Earned ODP all-region team honors in 2010 … Named Rookie of the Year as a sophomore, and defensive player of the years as a junior and senior …Class Valedictorian … National Merit and AP Scholar … Member of the National, Spanish and Math honor societies .. Named Winter Park Scholar-Athlete as a junior and received the Great Graduate Award as a senior … Volunteer at the Boy and Girls Club as a mentor and a tutor. 

Victoria Frager (La Jolla, Calif./La Jolla)
Four-year starter on the water polo team and four-time letterwinner in swimming … Captained the water polo team as a senior … Named California State Games Female Athlete of the Year in 2010 … Earned first-team All-CIF honors and all-league honors as a senior … Picked up second-team all-league honors as a junior … Named team MVP as a senior and won the Coaches Award as a freshman … Named MVP of the Irvine El Nino Cup Tournament, earned Bonita All-Tournament honors and was named to the San Diego Senior All-Star team in 2011 … Was a 2010 San Diego County All-Academic in 2010 and first-team selection in 2011 … A four-time San Diego Union Tribune “Athlete to Watch” … A four-time CIF finalist for the swim team … High school team was three-time CIF semifinalist and 2011 finalist … Club team, La Jolla Girls Water Polo Club, won the California State Games three times … A four-time Junior Olympics participant … ASB representative large as a junior and served a president as a senior … AP Scholar with Honor … National Merit …. Coordinator for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in 2010 … Sister, Courtney, rowed at UCLA and graduated in 2010.

Kalina Grabb (Boulder, Colo./Boulder)
Earned four varsity letters in swimming, golf and volleyball … Captained all three teams as a senior and the golf team as a sophomore and junior … A two-yea USA Water Polo All-Academic … A two-time CJGA All-Academic in golf … Also earned All-Academic in swimming … Recived All-America consideration for 200 yard medley relay … Received honorable mention all-region in golf in 2010 and all-league in 2011 … Four-time 5A state qualifier in swimming and golf … Competed for Mountain Zone Team (ODP), SET Water Polo Club, Colorado Pirates Club team and Rocky Mountain Neptunes Club … Recieded the Opdycke Award, given to the outstanding senior athlete with the highest GPA and who has received at least 2 letters in two sports, voted on by the coaches. … Black belt in Tae Kwon Do … Named Outstanding Freshman of the Year and Outstanding Sophomore of the Year … Four-year president of ClassAction Community Service Club … Treasurer of the National Honor Society … AP Scholar … Two-year leader of Panther Pride and commissioner as a senior … Member of Model UN … Worked for the Coca –Cola Global Hospitality Program … Blogged for local newspaper at the Beijing Olympic Games (2008), Vancouver Olympic Games (2010) and the FIFA World Cup Soccer South Africa (2010) … Brother, Oliver, is a senior at Gonzaga where he is a member of their golf team.

Jasmine Griffin (Centennial, Colo./Arapahoe)
Two-year letterwinner in swimming … Member of the Mountain Zone Team (OPD) and Colorado Water Polo … USA Water Polo All-Academic in 2010 … Earned CHSAA Academic All-State first-team in 2010 and 2011 for swimming … National Merit Finalist … AP Scholar with Distinction … Masonic Officers Award for outstanding junior achievement … President and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter –Day Saints Young Women Organization … Members of the Arapahoe Singers, Pianist … Member of student council, Link Crew and the Math Club … Father, John, played water polo for the Crimson and graduated in 1991 … Mother, Jill, earned a degree from the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences in 2000.

Emily Kraemer (Royal Palm Beach, Fla./Suncoast)
Three-year letterwinner in water polo and two-year letterwinner in swimming … Captained water polo team as a senior … Earned all-county honorable mention as a senior … Received team’s defensive player of the year award as a senior after earning coaches award as a junior … National Merit Finalist … Regional Coca-Cola Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction … President and founder of the Suncoast chapter of Habitat for Humanity … Palm Beach County’s 2009 Habitat for Humanity Volunteer of the Year … Member of student council and student government … Served as SGA class secretary as a sophomore and junior and first vice president as a senior … A 2010 Rustic Pathways Costa Rica Leadership Camp Volunteer … Received the 2010 Rustic Pathways Alumni Award.

Release courtesy Harvard Athletic Communications