Preps: Gorman tennis star wants team title

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Sept. 3, 1998 | 11:08 a.m.

There were more than enough reasons for Bishop Gorman's David DiMartino to skip the 1998 high school tennis season.

The senior has won consecutive 4A state singles titles, hasn't lost a high school match in two years and has been defeated just once in his Gorman career.

Most importantly, skipping the Gaels' fall season would have given DiMartino the chance to work on his game, improve on his top-100 USTA under-18 ranking and earn a college scholarship.

But when it came time for DiMartino to make his decision, one factor overwhelmed all the others and swayed him to return. DiMartino wanted to finish high school with a team championship.

"Gorman hasn't won a state title this decade, and it would be a great thing for the school if we could do it this year," said DiMartino, who had been considering playing football this fall.

"Winning a team championship was his motivation," agreed Gorman coach Adolph Huddleston, a teaching pro at the Flamingo Hilton who also coaches DiMartino privately. "After the first year, all he's wanted to do was have a banner that represented the era when he was here."

DiMartino, who didn't get serious about the sport until he turned 12, broke onto the local prep scene with a vengeance in 1995, going undefeated before before falling to Green Valley's Jeff Harbaugh in a three-set marathon state final.

The following season, the hard-hitting baseliner returned to the championship match, this time avenging his loss to Harbaugh and capturing his first 4A state crown.

And last year, DiMartino once again had little trouble with his in-state competition, sweeping through the season without dropping a set.

So after earning his second state trophy, it's little wonder the 17-year-old spent the summer debating whether or not to return to Gorman's lineup.

"There such a gulf in the talent level," Huddleston said. "Even against the closest competitors, he rolls. He has a legitimate career playing tennis, whether in college or beyond."

Instead of stepping aside, though, DiMartino decided to return to the team in a new role. This year, he'll pair up with teammate Sean Margulis to form the Gaels' top doubles duo.

So in addition to trying to lead Gorman to the team title, DiMartino will set his sights on his first high school doubles crown.

And for a player who routinely dominates USTA Inter-Mountain Sectional tournaments, there's no reason to think he won't accomplish whatever he sets out to do.

"He's able to hit a winner from anywhere on the court," Huddleston said. "He's got great hands and great balance and his return of serves is remarkable."

According to Huddleston, Bally's tennis pro Rita Agassi once compared DiMartino's game to that of her famous brother, Andre.

Whether or not DiMartino lives up those lofty comparisons remains to be seen. For now, he simply plans to enjoy his final season in high school.

"My teammates would have understood if I didn't play," DiMartino said. "But I would love to win it for the team this year."