# Los Alamitos High School

Los Alamitos High School (also known as Los Al) is a public school for grades 9 to 12 located in Los Alamitos, California, and also serving the city of Seal Beach and the community of Rossmoor. It is the only traditional high school in the Los Alamitos Unified School District; the far smaller Laurel High School serves as a continuation school and as the district office site. Both Oak Middle School and McAuliffe Middle School feed into Los Alamitos High.

## History

In its very first year, classes were held at Pine Junior High School (now McAuliffe Middle), and only sophomores attended. The following year saw the school move into its new campus whose buildings were specifically designed for Los Al's unique flexible scheduling program (and the addition of juniors, followed by seniors the next year). During its first two years, Los Alamitos High School had a complete flexible schedule program. Student submitted hand-written multi-part daily schedules during their scheduling class. This allowed them to choose from scheduled sessions of their classes for flexible periods of time, depending on the needs of the teachers and students. In the third year, it changed to a computer scheduling program to provide more administrative accountability for the students' whereabouts. This version of flexible scheduling used then-current computer technology to generate daily class schedules based on each instructor's lesson plans. Students would report each morning to their "scheduling class" to receive their daily schedule – broken into a series of "modules". Each teacher would select the needed number of fifteen-minute modules to allow for that day's instruction, whether it be a test, a lecture, a lab, etc. In their scheduling class, students could rearrange or fill open modules from the "October" schedule, a listing of available classes. This allowed serious students to make the best use of their schedule to attend classes in a sequence that made more sense for that day.
Los Al's unique flexible scheduling was replaced with a traditional school schedule in 1977 after it was discovered that less disciplined students were abusing the system. For those more dedicated students who leveraged the school's unique scheduling to their advantage, Los Al produced an extraordinary number of early graduates, who went on to succeed in the best universities.
Beginning in fall 1987, the Orange County High School of the Arts was resident on its campus, but its success and growth led it to move to a bigger campus in Santa Ana in 2001.

### Principals of Los Alamitos High School

| No | Tenure | Name |
| 01. | 1967–1968 | Wilbur Wheaton |
| 02. | 1968–1970 | William McKee |
| 03. | 1970–1976 | Dale Schroeder |
| 04. | 1976–1979 | Mary Franks |
| 05. | 1979–1980 | Dale Hughes |
| 06. | 1980–1985 | Rudy Castruita |
| 07. | 1985–1998 | Carol Hart |
| Int | 1998 | Sherry Kropp |
| 08. | 1998–1999 | Rebecca Shore |
| Int | 2000 | Kelly Godfrey |
| 09. | 2000–2006 | Daniel Brooks |
| 10. | 2006–2009 | Kelly Godfrey |
| 11. | 2009–2012 | Grant Litfin |
| 12. | 2012–2015 | Joshua Arnold |
| 13. | 2015–2018 | Brandon Martinez |
| 14. | 2018–2019 | Gregg Stone |
| 15. | 2019–2020 | Chris Vlasic |
| Int | 2020–2021 | Gregg Stone |
| 16. | 2021– | Christiana Kraus |

## Extracurricular activities
### Athletic programs

Los Al is known for its success in many Varsity sports. The boys' Varsity Football team won a CIF Southern Section Div. 3 title in 1991, and Division II titles in 1992 and 1993 (the latter a shared title with Esperanza) and won a Division I championship in 2002, and reached the finals and semi-finals on numerous other occasions, most recently in 2004. The Boys' water polo team was also CIF-SS Division II champions in fall 1999, and 2004 and were CIF-SS Masters champions in 2007.
The boys' Los Al Tennis team won the CIF SS Division I Championship in 2001 and again in 2015. After the 2015 season, multiple publications listen the Griffins as the best high school tennis team in the nation. Considering the level of competition in tennis in Southern California, this was a most notable accomplishment. It was in CIF Division I semi-finals in 1999 and 2000. From 1995 through 2001 it had a league record of 69–1, an overall record of 128–18 and produced 16 All-Orange County selections. Additionally, 55 players were honored as scholar athletes and went on to play at college level. The team received recognition from the Mayors of the cities of Los Alamitos and Seal Beach for its contribution to positive publicity.
The girls' volleyball team has won a number of CIF local and state championships. It was CIF Southern Section Division IA champions in 2002, 2004, and 2013 and won CIF Division I State championships in 2003, 2005, and 2006, and came in second 2013. In 2018, the team won the CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship and lost in the quarterfinals in the CIF Division 1 State Championships.
Girls' soccer won CIF section titles in 1996 (Div. II), 1997 (Div. I) and 2005 (Div. I). The last team was also named the No. 1 team in the nation by Student Sports Magazine. Another indicator of the success of the program was that in 2007 there were 17 Los Al alumni girls playing NCAA Division I soccer.
The Griffin Varsity Boys' soccer team won CIF-Southern Section titles in 1991 and 2002. Alums Mike Munoz (2001) and Jonathan Bornstein (2002) have both made MLS rosters (Galaxy and Chivas USA) and Bornstein was not only the MLS 2007 Rookie of the Year but is currently on the US Men's National team roster.
The boys' Basketball team won CIF Division IA and IAA championships in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Los Al Basketball great Ali Ton holds the assist record at Davidson College. In 2025, the Griffins returned to the CIF SS Division 1 final, defeating Mira Costa High School 63-60 to win their first title in 18 years.
The Los Alamitos High School Marching Band has competed in circuits such as Western Band Association (WBA) and Marching Band Open Series (MBOS). In 2009 and 2010 they placed 1st in the WBA 3A division as well as the combined 1A/2A/3A Finals, and in 2011 and 2012 the unit placed 3rd in the WBA 3A division. In 2013 they placed 2nd in the WBA 3A division, 3rd in the combined 1A/2A/3A Finals, 1st in the MBOS Black Opal division, and 7th in the combined MBOS Finals. The unit also has an award-winning drumline and color guard.
The LAHS Surf Team took second place over all in ISF State Championships in 2009. Boys' Shortboard finished with second place, bodyboard placed third and Girls' Longboard finished as State Champions. Los Al finished in third place in 2008 and First place in 2007 and 2006.
In their fourth season of competition, the LAHS Girls' Lacrosse team was the undefeated CIF Division I Orange County and Southern Section Champions in 2009 and 2010. Los Al finished the season ranked #4 in the state of California.
LAHS Boys' Golf – They have won back to back league championships while setting course records at difficult golf courses. In a win over Newport Harbor this year, the team set the lowest team score there in 7 years.

#### CIF teams

Note: This list does not include sports which are currently clubs and thus not officially recognized in CIF.

### Show Choir

The Los Alamitos choir program is one of the largest and most successful choir programs in the nation. Since David Moellenkamp took over as director of the program in 2009, Los Alamitos show choirs have been named Grand Champions more than 175 times at various regional and national competitions. Los Al currently has seven different choirs, consisting of six competitive show choirs and a concert choir: Sound FX (advanced mixed choir), Soundtrax (advanced treble choir), Connexion (intermediate mixed choir), Xquisite (intermediate treble choir), Xtreme (tenor/bass choir), Axcent (novice treble choir), and Xpressions (concert choir).
Sound FX is one of the most dominant show choirs in the history of high school show choir, having been named Grand Champions at 14 National competitions, including Show Choir Nationals (2010, 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2022), Fame Show Choir National Finals (2015, 2016, and 2017), Heart of America - New York City (2023), Heart of America - Orlando (2018), Fame New York (2015), Fame Orlando (2013), and Fame Hollywood (2012). Despite competing in the extremely difficult southern California show choir circuit along with two of the best show choir programs in the country (John Burroughs High School and Burbank High School), Sound FX went undefeated in the 2018, 2020 and 2023 competition seasons. Sound FX has recorded and performed with numerous famous artists, including Barry Manilow, Patti Lupone, Kristin Chenoweth, Journey, Foreigner, and Major Parkinson.
Soundtrax, which has been directed by Moana Dherlin since 2015, has been named Grand Champions at 11 National competitions, including Show Choir Nationals (2010, 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2022), Fame Show Choir National Finals (2012, 2015, 2016, and 2017), and Fame New York (2015). Soundtrax went undefeated in the 2019, 2020, and 2022 competition seasons.
Notable recent alumni of the Los Alamitos show choir program include actress Jenna Lea Rosen and recording artist and American Idol contestant Sophia Wackerman.

### Other school group programs

* Color Guard
* Cheerleading
[Songleading] 21 years of winning national championships
* Dance
* Marching Band
* Drama

## Academic accolades

* United States Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School – 1990, 1994, 1998 (Special Honors in Art Education for 1998)
* California Department of Education California Distinguished School – 1988, 1994, 1998, 2009
* California School Boards Association Golden Bell Awards – 1998 (Griffins with a Mission), 2005 (Contemporary Media in the Arts)
* California Gold Ribbon School – 2016

## Notable alumni
### Actors

* Dante Basco – actor (Hook, Take the Lead)
* Stephanie J. Block – singer, actress (Elphaba in Wicked, Liza Minnelli in The Boy From Oz, and Grace O'Malley in The Pirate Queen on Broadway)
* Cathy Cavadini – voice actress (Tanya Mousekewitz in An American Tail: Fievel Goes West, Blossom on The Powerpuff Girls)
* Chad Doreck – actor (Grease: You're the One that I Want!)
* Susan Egan – singer, actress (First Belle in Beauty and the Beast on Broadway, the voice of Megara in Disney's Hercules)
* Kayla Ewell – actress (The Bold and the Beautiful, The O.C.)
* Michael Fishman – actor (D.J. Conner on Roseanne)
* Lauren German – actress – (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Hostel: Part II, Lucifer)
* Myles Jeffrey – actor (My Mom's Got a Date With a Vampire, Recess)
* Jason Lewis – actor (Sex & The City, Brothers & Sisters)
* Allison Mack – actress (Smallville)
* Taryn Manning – actress (Crossroads, Hustle & Flow, Cold Mountain)
* Matthew Morrison – stage actor (Hairspray on Broadway), plays Mr. Schuster on Glee
* Sarah Ramos – actress
* Cathy Rigby – Olympic gymnast, stage actress (Peter Pan)
* Matthew Shaffer – actor
* Clayton Snyder – actor (Lizzie McGuire)
* Jodie Sweetin – actress (Stephanie Tanner on Full House)
* Anneliese Van der Pol – singer, actress (That's So Raven, Last Belle in Beauty and the Beast on Broadway)

### Sports

* Jonathan Bornstein 2002 – professional soccer – Querétaro (Liga MX); US national soccer team.
* Tim Carey – Former Arena Football League player.
* Antoine Cason 2004 – Former NFL player, All-American University of Arizona, 2007 NCAA Jim Thorpe Award Winner.
* Ron Cassidy – 1975 – NFL – former (Green Bay Packers) 1979–1985.
* Lynne Cox 1975 – long-distance open-water swimmer and author.
* Chase d'Arnaud 2005 – MLB – San Diego Padres organization.
* Jacqueline Frank DeLuca 1998 – American water polo goalkeeper, 2004 bronze medal Olympian and two-time collegiate National Player of the Year.
* Rachel Fattal 2012 – American water polo player, gold medal at 2016 Olympics.
* Landry Fields 2006 – NBA – drafted in 2010 by the New York Knicks.
* Greg A. Harris 1974 – former Major League Baseball player.
* Keenan Howry 1999 – NFL – former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver.
* Mike Kelly 1988 – former Major League Baseball player, 3-time All-America at Arizona State.
* Chris Kluwe 2000 – Former NFL player.
* Darren McCaughan - MLB starter/reliever for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Guardian, and Miami Marlins
* Tylor Megill – MLB player
* Mike Munoz 2001 – Former MLS player.
* Malachi Nelson - #1 overall high school football prospect in 2023, played his freshman year at USC before transferring to Boise State.
* Stacey Nelson 2005 – Softball – 2009 Florida Gators softball team; US Women's National team, 2009.
* Robb Nen 1987 – Retired Major League Baseball player. Played for Texas Rangers, Florida Marlins, San Francisco Giants.
* Ifeanyi Ohalete 1997 – NFL & AFL – former Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and New York Dragons safety.
* Jacob Nix 2014 – baseball player in the San Diego Padres' organization.
* Mike Patterson 2001 – NFL – First round draft in 2005 by the Philadelphia Eagles, played for New York Giants, All-American USC.
* Alex Redmond 2013 – NFL player
* Bernard Riley 1999 – NFL & AFL – former defensive tackle of the Los Angeles Avengers, Columbus Destroyers, Arizona Rattlers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
* Jared Rollins – UFC – The Ultimate Fighter season six on Spike.
* Mike Sanford Jr. – offensive coordinator at University of Minnesota, former head coach at Western Kentucky
* Orlando Scandrick 2005 – NFL – Dallas Cowboys.
* J. T. Snow 1986 – Retired Major League Baseball player. Played for New York Yankees, California Angels, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox.
* Mark Wasikowski 1989 – Head baseball coach for the Oregon Ducks baseball team.
* Justine Wong-Orantes 2013 - Olympic gold medalist and professional volleyball player.

### Music

* Kit Armstrong – pianist and composer
* Aaron Barrett – lead singer of the ska band Reel Big Fish
* Joe Escalante – bassist of The Vandals and owner of Kung Fu Records; on-air personality Indie 103-FM
* Tara Hahn - lead singer of the ska band Half Past Two
* Scott Klopfenstein – trumpet, guitar and singer from Ska band Reel Big Fish as well as lead singer, pianist and guitar player of The Littlest Man Band
* Maile Misajon – singer in the band Eden's Crush
* Monique Powell and Steve White – of the ska band Save Ferris
* Soopafly – Hip hop producer
* Mark Trombino – Drummer of Drive Like Jehu and record producer.
* Chris Tsagakis – Drummer in Rx Bandits
* Brooks Wackerman – current drummer of Avenged Sevenfold, former drummer of Bad Religion, Suicidal Tendencies, and Bad 4 Good.

### Notable criminals

* Mikhail Markhasev - Murdered Ennis Cosby, the 27 year old son of Bill Cosby, during a robbery.
* Jeremy Strohmeyer – Murdered 7 year old Sherrice Iverson at the Primadonna Resort and Casino in Primm, Nevada
* Daniel Wozniak - Murdered his neighbor and friend, Samuel Eliezer "Sam" Herr and Herr's friend, Juri "Julie" Kibuishi, as part of a plan to frame Herr for Kibuishi’s murder and steal his savings.