Swim-A-Thon at Los Alamitos High School Supports Griffin Graduate Facing Spinal Cord Injury

It was a pool party with a purpose.

Last Wednesday afternoon, the aquatics community of Southern California converged at the Los Alamitos High School pool for a swim-a-thon fundraiser for one of its own. 

Isaiah Osorio, an LAHS alumnus and scholar-athlete from Cypress College, is dealing with a life-changing injury. A Seal Beach lifeguard since 2023, Osorio suffered severe spinal cord trauma last month while working as a Junior Lifeguard instructor. He was recently transported to a facility in Colorado for specialized care and rehabilitation.

To support the 20-year-old in his recovery, more than 120 swimmers of all ages logged laps on July 16 at his old pool in the Los Alamitos Unified School District. Dozens more people with ties to water polo, swimming, and lifeguarding packed the bleachers. Attendees also created handmade cards to be delivered to Osorio. “Stay strong,” read one.

Rising LAHS senior Josie Presiado spearheaded the swim-a-thon, working with her parents, the LAHS Water Polo and Swimming Booster Club, her coaches, teammates, and other campus officials to make the event happen. 

“My coach Rob [Grayeli] always says how our program is a family and how family always comes first,” the 17-year-old water polo player wrote in an email to Spotlight Schools prior to the event. “When I saw that Isaiah was injured, I decided to help out a member of our aquatics family. Even if I could not personally donate money, I could donate my time.”

During the swim-a-thon on Wednesday, Josie stood on the pool deck enthusiastic about the turnout. "I'm so proud of the people that took time out of their day to help. Amazing!" she smiled. "I'm just so grateful."

“The pool is full,” said Joe Fallon, a board member of the high school booster club who also helped organize the swim-a-thon. “This is great,” he added. Fallon's son was one of the many Griffin athletes in the water.

Aurora Perez was another swimmer taking part. The 10-year-old is a Seal Beach Junior Lifeguard and said she was at the beach when Osorio was hurt. She was compelled by the experience to show up for the swim-a-thon. “I feel like I have to be here. He’s an instructor and deserves for all of us to be here,” Aurora said. 

The rising fifth grader at Weaver Elementary has also been selling homemade bracelets to raise money for Osorio. Aurora shared this message of encouragement for him: “Push through it! You've got this!"

Twelve-year-old Amelia Boughlala was another young swim-a-thon participant. She said her own personal experience with an injury inspired her to come out. “I had a concussion and had to give up water polo,” she said. She hoped to swim 20 laps.

Harper Wille is a rising sophomore at LAHS and a member of the girls water polo team. After finishing up her laps with her teammates, she reflected on the experience.

"We all came together to raise money for Isaiah and I thought it was fun and important," Harper said. "It brought me joy to see a lot of people come together to take the time to help."

"We're a big aquatics family," Los Alamitos High School head water polo coach Rob Grayeli said in an interview. He praised Josie for creating the opportunity for people to support a community member in need. Grayeli also thanked school administrators for their assistance in securing the pool for the event. Members of the school’s Associated Student Body (ASB) made posters and the district sent out an email message to its thousands of families to spread the word. 

"I'm glad that everyone stepped up for Isaiah and that he knows he has a whole family supporting him back home," Grayeli said.

Another part of the aquatics family showed up from Osorio's college community. After graduating from LAHS in 2023, Osorio studied and played water polo at Cypress College. His former coach and teammates were there on Wednesday.  

"Everyone really banded together," Mark Canner, the head coach of the Cypress College Water Polo program, said during a brief interview. "All the guys, we just love each other," he added. Canner spoke very highly of Osorio. He described his former player as a stellar scholar, athlete, and teammate and mentioned how Osorio was due to transfer to UCLA this fall to continue his studies. "He's a beacon of academic success," Canner said.

Thanks to Canner, his players, the Los Alamitos High School community and everyone else that participated and donated, the swim-a-thon has already raised nearly $12,000 as of July 20. Donations can still be made here for about the next week. 

The swim-a-thon is one of several efforts supporting Osorio and his family through this difficult time. A GoFundMe page set up by a family friend has raised more than $168,000 to “help ease the financial burden and give Isaiah the resources and hope he needs to heal, rebuild, and continue pursuing his bright future.” 

The Seal Beach Lifeguard Association is also holding a special fundraiser on August 1 where donors will get a chance to jump off the Seal Beach Pier. And some of the junior lifeguards that were in Osorio’s group have created impromptu donation drives. 

The response from the family has been positive. “The Osorio family did text me saying thank you,” LAHS Water Polo and Swimming Booster Club President Sandy Michaels wrote in an email. She said the family shared that the pictures of the event brought a smile to Osorio's face.

Osorio’s mother also shared this message on Instagram: “Thank you for sharing your swim-a-thon photos. What an incredible turnout. Huge thanks to Josie, Sandy, and the entire Los Al Aquatics family for organizing such a powerful event in support of Isaiah."

Josie was happy to contribute and send a message to Osorio that a lot of people have his back. "I just hope that he knows that he has a community of people that are here to support him," she said.