ATHLETES OF THE YEAR / ALL-COUNTY TEAMS : Roditi Revels in San Clemente’s Success : Boys’ tennis: Though he dominated individual events, senior’s highlight was team’s first league title in the sport and its appearance in playoffs.

David Roditi’s goal was to enjoy his senior year at San Clemente High School. Not just during the tennis season, but all the way around.

He succeeded on all counts--and all courts.

“I had a lot of fun this year,” Roditi said. “I probably didn’t work as hard on tennis as I should have, but I had a lot of fun.”

If Roditi didn’t work as hard on tennis as he should have, no one in the South Coast League, Orange County or the Southern Section noticed. Roditi, The Times Orange County player of the year, again dominated boys’ tennis in 1992.

This season, Roditi won his third league singles championship, advanced to his third consecutive singles final at the prestigious Ojai Invitational and reached the semifinals of the Southern Section individual competition. In addition, he led San Clemente to its first South Coast League championship in tennis and the Tritons’ first appearance in the Southern Section 4-A semifinals.

“The highlight of the year for me was how the team did,” Roditi said. “Everything worked out great. We made the school think about the tennis team for a change by having such a great year, and that’s going to make the program stronger in the future.”

During his prep tennis career, Roditi went from riches-to-rags-to-riches with his high school teams. As a freshman, Roditi played for perennial power Dana Hills, where he won the league singles title in his first year in the United States after moving from Mexico.

Roditi transferred to San Clemente before his sophomore year and played for the consistently cellar-dwelling Tritons. Although successful individually, Roditi was frustrated by San Clemente’s inability to qualify for the section playoffs.

“When you play for a team, how the team does is what’s important, not how you do personally,” Roditi said. “It took time before we knew how to play as a team.”

The Tritons improved in Roditi’s junior year and this season emerged as one of the top teams in the county. San Clemente ended Dana Hills’ six-year reign as league champion and went on to upset fourth-seeded Corona del Mar in the 4-A quarterfinals, led by Roditi’s sweep in No. 1 singles.

In the semifinals, five-time defending champion Santa Barbara defeated the Tritons, 13-5, but Roditi has only good memories of that match.

“It was really something how so many of our friends from school came out to cheer for us against Santa Barbara,” Roditi said. “It showed us that the tennis team was important to the school.”

Roditi credited San Clemente Coach Rob Hogrefe, who took over in Roditi’s first year at San Clemente, with the Tritons’ transformation from last place to league champion.

“Rob taught us how important it was for us to think as a team and play as a team,” he said. “He was a great coach for all of us.”

After a busy summer of tennis, including the USTA Southern California 18-and-under sectionals beginning June 20, Roditi will attend Texas Christian on a tennis scholarship. Still, he plans to keep in touch with San Clemente, where the rest of his family now lives, including brother Daniel. Daniel, who will be a junior this fall, teamed with Jeff Marsden to win the section doubles title in May.

“I had a great time at San Clemente,” Roditi said. “I’ll be back.”

The Times’ All-County Boys’ Tennis

FIRST-TEAM SINGLES

Player School Yr. Comment Dave Bain Corona del Mar Sr. Sea View League champion and section quarterfinalist. John Bowerbank University Sr. Led University to the Sea View title, 4-A semifinals. David Roditi San Clemente Sr. County player of year led. Tritons to Division 4-A semis.

FIRST-TEAM DOUBLES

Player School Yr. Comment Steen Lundblad Dana Hills Sr. South Coast champions, section finalists. Jeremy Driscoll Dana Hills Sr. Jeff Marsden San Clemente Sr. Dominated section individuals en route to doubles title. Daniel Roditi San Clemente So. Trenton Rhodes Corona del Mar Jr. Reached section semifinals, won Sea View title. Bryan Walden Corona del Mar Jr.

SECOND-TEAM SINGLES

Player School Yr. Comment Chris Brown El Toro Sr. Section quarterfinalist, South Coast runner-up to Roditi. Eric Lin Canyon Jr. Century League MVP, Southern Section quarterfinalist. Cameron Lindee Loara Sr. Empire singles champion, section quarterfinalist.

SECOND-TEAM DOUBLES

Player School Yr. Comment Bobby Nichols Laguna Beach Sr. Pacific Coast champions, section quarterfinalists. Brad Buchsbaum Laguna Beach Sr. Bryan Shapiro University Sr. Team’s doubles anchor reached section quarterfinals. Robbie Wilkins University So. Hien Wu La Quinta Jr. Garden Grove’s best, reached section quarterfinals. Peter Lam La Quinta Jr.