Point Loma High School
Encyclopedia
Point Loma High School is a public high school
in the San Diego Unified School District
in San Diego, California
. It is located in the Loma Portal neighborhood of Point Loma. The school serves the neighborhoods of Point Loma and Ocean Beach. In addition, students who live in Mission Hills may choose to attend Point Loma High School as their neighborhood school. Point Loma is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
The original three-story high school building was torn down in the 1970s as part of a statewide requirement to make all schools earthquake-safe. It was replaced by a number of two-story buildings.
During the 1950s it was converted to a three-year high school with the opening of Richard Henry Dana Junior High School
. In 1983 it became a four-year high school. PLHS now draws from seven elementary schools serving grades kindergarten through 4, and two middle schools: Dana Middle for grades 5 and 6, and Correia Middle for grades 7 and 8.
The school also holds the distinction of having produced two major-league baseball pitchers who threw perfect game
s -- David Wells
and Don Larsen
. Only 20 pitchers have thrown perfect games in Major League Baseball
history.
championship five times in the past fifty years, all under head coach Bennie Edens
. 2005-2006, under head coach Mike Hastings, the Pointers reached the championship game but lost to Saint Augustine High School both times. They reached the championship game again in 2007 and 2009 but lost to Cathedral Catholic High School both times again led by 1st team All-C.I.F. selection Anthony Joyner and 2nd team All-C.I.F. selection Jordan Sparkman. In the last 4 years the Pointers have had 7 Division 1 football athletes.
video Thrill of it All documented the unsuccessful attempts by professional skateboarder Jamie Thomas
to land the Leap of Faith. No one was successful at landing it without injury, so in 2002 the gap was blocked by the school to prevent anyone else from attempting it. The PLHS Leap of Faith was included as part of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
, a skateboarding-based video game.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in the San Diego Unified School District
San Diego Unified School District
San Diego Unified School District is the school district of San Diego, California. It was founded in 1854...
in San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is located in the Loma Portal neighborhood of Point Loma. The school serves the neighborhoods of Point Loma and Ocean Beach. In addition, students who live in Mission Hills may choose to attend Point Loma High School as their neighborhood school. Point Loma is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
History
PLHS is the third oldest high school in the San Diego Unified School District. It was dedicated in 1925 as Point Loma Junior-Senior High school, serving grades 7 through 12. There were 386 students at its opening on September 22, 1925. The first principal was Pete Ross and there were 30 teachers. Some San Diegans opposed creating a school in Point Loma, contending it was too far away from town, but school board member Edgar F. Hastings pushed the proposal through. In its early days the school was sometimes referred to as "Hastings' folly".The original three-story high school building was torn down in the 1970s as part of a statewide requirement to make all schools earthquake-safe. It was replaced by a number of two-story buildings.
During the 1950s it was converted to a three-year high school with the opening of Richard Henry Dana Junior High School
Dana Middle School (San Diego)
Richard Henry Dana Middle School is a public middle school in San Diego, California, part of the San Diego Unified School District. It was originally built in 1949. It serves approximately 820 students in grades 5 and 6. It is located in the Loma Portal neighborhood of Point Loma...
. In 1983 it became a four-year high school. PLHS now draws from seven elementary schools serving grades kindergarten through 4, and two middle schools: Dana Middle for grades 5 and 6, and Correia Middle for grades 7 and 8.
The school also holds the distinction of having produced two major-league baseball pitchers who threw perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
s -- David Wells
David Wells
David Lee Wells , nicknamed "Boomer", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Wells was considered to be one of the game's better left-handed pitchers, especially during his years with the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched the fifteenth perfect game in baseball history...
and Don Larsen
Don Larsen
Donald James Larsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953-67 for seven different teams. Larsen is best known for pitching the sixth perfect game in baseball history, doing so in game 5 of the 1956 World Series...
. Only 20 pitchers have thrown perfect games in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
history.
Demographics
Point Loma High School is the third largest of 16 high schools in the San Diego Unified School District. It is a four-year, comprehensive high school serving grades 9–12. It houses a student population of approximately 2000 students who come primarily from the local community. Approximately 35 percent of the student body participates in specialized programs, such as the Voluntary Ethnic Enrollment Program (VEEP), the Choice Program, the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) program, or the Seminar Program.Academics
Point Loma High School is a leader in the number and variety of AP classes offered, ranging from Music Theory to Physics.Athletics
The school's colors are maroon and gold, although football uniform colors are typically unconforming with their traditional colors of a main maroon with an accented gold. The mascot is the Pointer Dog. The school offers a variety of both men's and women's competitive sports:Fall
- Cross Country (men & women)
- Field Hockey (women)
- Football (men)
- Golf (women)
- Tennis (women)
- Volleyball (women)
- Water Polo (men)
Winter
- Basketball (men & women)
- Soccer (men & women)
- Water Polo (women)
- Wrestling (men & women)
Spring
- Badminton (men & women)
- Baseball (men)
- Golf (men)
- Lacrosse (men & women)
- Softball (women)
- Swim (men & women)
- Tennis (men)
- Track & Field (men & women)
- Volleyball (men)
Football
The Point Loma "Pointers" Football team has won or shared the CIFCalifornia Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
championship five times in the past fifty years, all under head coach Bennie Edens
Bennie Edens
Bennie Edens was the head football coach at Point Loma High School from 1950 to 1998. He received many individual coaching awards , coached the team to 5 CIF championships, and finished his career with the most wins at a single school of any coach in section history...
. 2005-2006, under head coach Mike Hastings, the Pointers reached the championship game but lost to Saint Augustine High School both times. They reached the championship game again in 2007 and 2009 but lost to Cathedral Catholic High School both times again led by 1st team All-C.I.F. selection Anthony Joyner and 2nd team All-C.I.F. selection Jordan Sparkman. In the last 4 years the Pointers have had 7 Division 1 football athletes.
Women's Soccer
The Lady Pointers soccer team has done almost the same (in terms of winning) each year. However in 2009, they made more progress than usual and went to the CIF Champoiship game defeating many higher seeded teams to get there. The game ended in a tie, with Point Loma winning it in PK's.Women's Basketball
The "Lady Pointers" basketball team was a powerhouse at the state level during the late 1980s, capturing the state championship and inspiring a graffiti-style mural that endures at the athletic field to this day. Under legendary women's basketball coach Lee Trepanier, known as "Coach T", the Lady Pointers posted an astonishing record of 335 wins and 51 losses between 1977 and 1990.Men's Water Polo
The Point Loma High water polo team had the distinction of making it to the CIF tournament seeded eighth in 2007 and most recently seeded fifteenth.Men's Tennis
The Point Loma High Men's Tennis team has won C.I.F two years running now, in 2008 and 2009. Their strongest team rivaled teams from all divisions losing only one match, to Torrey Pines.Sailing
In 2010 the PLHS Sailing Team won the Baker Trophy, the national team-racing championship of the Interscholastic Sailing Association, making them the national champions in the sport of sailing. The team was as follows: Skippers were Kevin Laube '10, Jake LaDow '11, Olin Paine '12, Shone Bowman '10, and Jake Reynolds '12; Crews were Claire Bagg '10, Will Herrin '12, Reece Bernet '10, and Kyle Sutter '12. PLHS sailing teams also won the national championship in 2003, 2004, and 2005.Alumni
Some famous alumni include:- Eric AllenEric AllenEric Andre Allen is a former professional American football cornerback who played in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, and Oakland Raiders from 1988 to 2001....
, 6 time NFL pro bowler, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders, ESPN Analyst - Margaret AveryMargaret AveryMargaret Avery is an American actress and singer. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Shug in The Color Purple .-Early life:...
, actress, nominated for an Academy Award as Shug Avery in the Steven Spielberg film "The Color Purple" - Todd BenjaminTodd BenjaminTodd Benjamin is a former CNN International's Financial Editor. He has interviewed many people since 1993, including former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.-External links:*...
, CNN business reporter - Florence ChadwickFlorence ChadwickFlorence May Chadwick was an American swimmer who was the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. She also made contributions to various youth groups.- Biography :...
, Swimmer - Bill Cleator, former San Diego City Councilmember, District 2
- Dennis ConnerDennis ConnerDennis Conner is an American yachtsman, noted for winning the bronze medal at the 1976 Olympics, two Star World Championships, and four wins in the America's Cup.-America's Cup:...
, sailor, four-time winner of the America's CupAmerica's CupThe America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging... - John deBeck, former San Diego Unified School Board Member
- La'Roi GloverLa'Roi GloverLa'Roi Damon Glover ; born July 4, 1974) is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League who ended his career with the St. Louis Rams. Glover retired from the NFL on June 22, 2009...
, NFL Defensive Tackle, St Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints - Sandra GoodSandra GoodSandra Collins Good a long-time member of the Manson Family and a close friend of Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme. Good's Manson Family nickname is "Blue," given to her by Charles Manson because of her blue eyes....
, Manson Family member - Robert "Rocky" Higgins, economics professor and author
- Joe HutshingJoe HutshingJoe Hutshing is an American film editor who grew up in San Diego, California and is best known for working multiple times with film director, Oliver Stone and well as with film director Cameron Crowe...
, Academy Award-winning film editor - Don LarsenDon LarsenDonald James Larsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953-67 for seven different teams. Larsen is best known for pitching the sixth perfect game in baseball history, doing so in game 5 of the 1956 World Series...
, major league baseball pitcher, pitched the only perfect game in a World SeriesWorld SeriesThe World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
(1956) - Bill LoweryBill Lowery (US politician)William David "Bill" Lowery was a Republican politician from California.Lowery was born in southeastern San Diego, California, USA, where he grew up. He attended San Diego State University....
, former Congressman - Marion RossMarion RossMarion Ross is an American actress best known for her role as Marion Cunningham on the television series Happy Days from 1974 to 1984.-Early life:...
, actress, best known as Marion Cunningham on appy Days] - Musician Jason ScheffJason ScheffJason Randolph Scheff is an American bassist, singer and songwriter. Since 1985 he has been the bassist and singer for the veteran pop-rock band Chicago. He is the oldest son of well-known session bassist Jerry Scheff, who toured for several years with Elvis Presley...
, member of the rock band Chicago - Suzy SpaffordSuzy SpaffordSuzy Spafford, also known as Suzy Spafford Lidstrom, is an American cartoonist best known for drawing whimsical animal characters. Her "Suzy's Zoo" line of greeting cards, stickers, stationery, calendars, and similar products is sold in thousands of stores all over the world...
, creator of the Suzy's Zoo line of greeting cards, calendars and cartoons] - Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald, founders of Slightly StoopidSlightly StoopidSlightly Stoopid is an American band based in Ocean Beach, San Diego, California, who describe their music as "a fusion of acoustic rock and blues with reggae, hip-hop, and punk". As a band, they have released eight albums with their sixth studio album, entitled Slightly Not Stoned Enough To Eat...
, band - JJ Stokes, NFL Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Musician Nathan Williams, of the rock band WavvesWavvesWavves is an American surf pop/noise punk band based out of San Diego, California.-History:Wavves started in 2008 as the recording project of Nathan Williams. Wavves released several 7"s as well as a cassette leading up to the first two releases 'Wavves' and 'Wavvves'...
- Byron Wear, former San Diego City Councilmember, District 2
- David WellsDavid WellsDavid Lee Wells , nicknamed "Boomer", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Wells was considered to be one of the game's better left-handed pitchers, especially during his years with the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched the fifteenth perfect game in baseball history...
, major league baseball pitcher, pitched a perfect game in 1998 - Dan WhiteDan White (UA quarterback)Dan White was the starting quarterback for the University of Arizona football team from 1993–1995, a span which included the Wildcats' only PAC 10 championship to date, as well as a record-setting Fiesta Bowl victory.-High school:...
, football player - Jimmy WilsonJimmy Wilson (American football)Jimmy Wilson is an American football cornerback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Montana. He started the preseason with #35 and picked up #25 with the departure of...
, Defensive Back, Miami Dolphins - Ese Zey, Chicano Rapper
- Aaron Zigman, songwriter and Hollywood film score composer
Landmarks
The school is known amongst skateboarders for its infamous "Leap of Faith," a staircase of 27 steps, which has been attempted to be dropped by a few skateboarders and rollerbladers. Notably, a ZeroZero Skateboards
Zero Skateboards is a skateboard company located in Carlsbad, California. It is part of the Black Box Distribution family. Zero decks are manufactured in Tijuana, Mexico, by Edieth and Osuna, which is owned by Jamie Thomas...
video Thrill of it All documented the unsuccessful attempts by professional skateboarder Jamie Thomas
Jamie Thomas
Jamie Thomas , is an American professional skateboarder and skateboard industry magnate from Dothan, Alabama. He is the co-owner of Zero Skateboards and Fallen Footwear.-Skateboarding career:...
to land the Leap of Faith. No one was successful at landing it without injury, so in 2002 the gap was blocked by the school to prevent anyone else from attempting it. The PLHS Leap of Faith was included as part of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, often abbreviated as THPS2, is the second game in the Tony Hawk's series. It was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision in 2000...
, a skateboarding-based video game.
See also
- Primary and secondary schools in San Diego, CaliforniaPrimary and secondary schools in San Diego, CaliforniaThis is a list of primary and secondary schools in San Diego, California, organized by school district.The San Diego Unified School District, also known as San Diego City Schools, is the school district that serves the majority of the city, it includes 113 elementary schools, 23 middle schools, 4...
- List of high schools in San Diego County, California