COMING of AGE

At 16, Travis Rettenmaier of Camarillo is the Doogie Howser of college tennis. He’s among the youngest athletes ever to compete for UCLA and gets teased more than TV’s teenage doctor.

“OK, guys, we’re going to order cots for everybody and send up a crib for Travis.”

“Can I have a ride, Travis? Oh, I forgot, you don’t have a driver’s license.”

“Hey, Travis, there’s a cute girl for you. I’ll bet she’s 15.”

Such is life for a college freshman who should be a junior in high school but lives in a campus dorm, attends classes and plays No. 2 doubles for No. 4-ranked UCLA.

“Every time, someone will ask, ‘How old are you?’ I’m 16. ‘Are you a genius?’ I’m not a genius by any means. I can play tennis,” he said.

Rettenmaier is among the nation’s top junior players. He helped the United States win the World Youth Cup 16-and-under championship last year in Australia. His mother, Karen, played tennis at UCLA from 1971-73.

Rettenmaier has traveled to Europe and across the country for tennis tournaments. He was home schooled, attended a tennis academy in Tampa, Fla., briefly attended Newbury Park High and graduated from Laurel Springs School in Ojai, which has an independent study program.

He graduated in January and enrolled immediately at UCLA to experience tougher tennis competition. Everything has worked out better than he imagined. Not only is the tennis challenging, but college life is expanding his horizons.

“When I was home schooled, it was tennis, tennis, tennis,” he said. “I’m playing more than I ever had, but I don’t think about it as much.”

Rettenmaier never competed for a high school team but enjoys the team format. Since he’s nine years younger than the oldest UCLA player, he’s learning how to gently assert himself. He has always considered himself a leader, but trying to influence adults as a 16-year-old can be hazardous.

“I have to slow down and make sure I pave my way so they don’t pounce all over me,” he said.

He plays tennis with bursts of emotion and energy. Teammates advise him to respect opponents, but he’s not afraid to intimidate them with on-the-court fire.

“These guys are trying to teach me to have a little more respect for your opponent,” he said. “I’m 16. I can have disrespect. I’ll learn as I go.”

Hanging around with college students has been an eye opener. When he listens to a teammate talk about finding the ideal wife, he realizes what a different environment he has entered.

“We’re talking about girls,” Rettenmaier said. “He’s talking about looking for a wife, talking about qualities. I don’t understand that. It’s out of my league. I’m in a state, one girl here, one girl there.”

The problem for Rettenmaier is he’ll never be the oldest UCLA player even if he stays four years.

“I’ll graduate at 19,” he said.

By then, at least he’ll be old enough to see an R-rated movie.

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High school baseball teams must declare by Saturday to move up divisions for the Southern Section playoffs. Schools are placed in divisions based on enrollment, but can move up if they desire.

Notre Dame should be playing in Division IV, but the Knights have continued to play in Division I by choice.

“We’re trying to decide what we think is best for us,” Coach Tom Dill said. . . .

USC-bound shortstop Jonathon Brewster of Notre Dame hit two home runs in the alumni game Saturday. Dodger farmhand Jorge Piedra won the alumni home-run hitting contest with eight. . . .

Edison Field and Dodger Stadium are unavailable for Southern Section championship baseball games June 2-3, so alternative sites must be found. . . .

Catcher Alec Moss of Notre Dame has committed to Xavier. He’s the fourth Knight player to commit to an NCAA Division I school. . . .

Sophomore tennis whiz Stephen Amritraj of Crespi has come up with an innovative idea for his school community service project. He’s organizing his fellow junior players to teach local elementary school children the basics of tennis during a clinic March 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Warner Center L.A. Fitness Racquet Club. . . .

Monroe and Hart are close to signing a contract to play each other in the opening football game next season at Monroe.

Hart is expected to be the region’s No. 1 team. But Coach Chris Richards of Monroe doesn’t seem concerned. “I’m trying to get our schedule to where we can see where we’re at early,” he said. . . .

Former Westlake assistant Bill Culpepper, who has been coaching at Clint High near El Paso, this week will interview for the vacant football coaching positions at Alemany and Chaminade. . . .

Former Campbell Hall pitcher Brian Kriegler, a junior left-hander at Claremont-Mudd, pitched a five-hitter on Tuesday to defeat Chapman, 6-1. His younger brother, Greg, is a sophomore catcher at Washington University in St. Louis. Both were all-section choices at Campbell Hall. . . .

When former Cleveland pitcher Mike Schultz pitches for Loyola Marymount, his 10-year-old brother, Joey, usually watches from the bleachers. Most amazing is that Joey is already wearing Mike’s Cleveland baseball jacket. Considering Mike is 6 feet 8, Joey might be looking down at big brother some day.

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Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (8180 772-3422 or eric.sondheimer@latimes.com