Kjell Stakkestad

Hall of Fame Class of 2009

Kjell Stakkestad (class of 1973) – Kjell played four sports at Aptos, football (two years), cross-country (two years), baseball (four years), and basketball (four years). In the 1972 cross-country season, Kjell was All-League, finished third at the CCS Regionals, and finished tenth at the CCS Championships. Kjell played three-years on the varsity baseball team, and he never batted below .300. However, it was in basketball where Kjell really made his mark. Kjell was All-MBL all four years, twice for Lightweights and twice for varsity. He was the MBL’s leading scorer in 1972-73, was named the MBL MVP, and he led the Mariners to their first CCS playoff run. Kjell was co-valedictorian of his graduating class, and he matriculated to U.C. Davis. During his frosh year at Davis, he was the leading scorer on the JV basketball team, and he led them to an undefeated league season. He graduated from U.C. Davis with a Bachelors and a Masters degree in mathematics. In 1975, he married Erin Fitzgerald (AHS class of 1975), and today they live in Phoenix with their three children, Celia, Kirsten, and Connor. Kjell “flew satellites” for thirteen years at Lockheed before co-founding KinetX, an engineering consulting firm. Kjell is currently President and Chairman of KinetX. Kjell was presented into the by his wife, Erin.