Lingman Overcomes Burnout, Sizzles on the Court

By DAVE McKIBBEN

June 15, 1999 12 AM PT

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

Woodbridge High’s David Lingman never questioned his talent, but he did wonder about his desire. So for six months, Lingman stayed away from competitive tennis.

“I was really burned out,” Lingman said. “I had a lot of tough, close losses [in junior tennis] and I was just really frustrated. I needed some time away.”

Lingman’s comeback began in March with the opening of the high school tennis season. He started slowly--bowing out of the Ojai boys’ interscholastic tournament in the round of 16 and losing twice in a Sea View League match match against Corona del Mar. But once Lingman got his groove back, he was remarkable.

In the stretch run of late May, he played the best tennis of his life--leading Woodbridge to a Division I semifinal upset of Los Alamitos with a gutsy, comeback victory over Cody Jackson, losing a heartbreaking three setter to San Bernardino San Gorgonio’s Carl McCafferty in the Southern Section individuals and sweeping Corona del Mar in the team final.

“I got back to my old form, maybe better,” said Lingman, who was 54-3 in dual matches.

This year, there was no one better than Lingman, who is The Times Orange County Player of the Year in boys’ tennis.

Lingman didn’t play high school tennis last season as he made a big push to improve his junior tennis ranking. He spent last season working with his private coach, Mark Kaplan, who was happy when Lingman chose to return to the team his senior season.

“The competitiveness and the camaraderie of a team brought out the best in Dave,” said Kaplan, who played at UC Irvine and on the pro tour.

Kaplan said Lingman’s six-month hiatus might have resurrected his career, which will continue next season at Harvard.

“I never really realized why he played,” Kaplan said. “But I think he used that time off to figure out why he was out there. He realized he has a talent and a skill and he might as well use it.”

By using it, Lingman helped lead an unsung Warrior team into the Division I final, where they were beaten by a much deeper Corona del Mar team. The highlight of Lingman’s season was probably his 7-6 victory over Jackson. He was down 4-1 and 5-2, but he rallied to win a tiebreaker by passing the 6-foot-4 Jackson at will.

That victory kept Woodbridge in the match and seemed to demoralize top-seeded Los Alamitos.

“After he pulled that off, it inspired the rest of guys,” Woodbridge Coach Joan Willett said. “He played his best when he was playing for the team. I saw a big difference in his attitude.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BOYS’ TENNIS

FIRST TEAM

Parker Collins, Sr., Corona del Mar

Ojai semifinalist was 50-4 in dual matches, round of 16 in section individuals.

Cody Jackson, Sr., Los Alamitos

Reached quarterfinals of Ojai and section individuals, went 43-2 in dual matches.

David Lingman, Sr., Woodbridge

Unbeaten in Division I team playoffs, quarterfinalist in section individuals.

Sameer Chopra (Sr.) and Christian Jensen (Sr.), Corona del Mar

Went 18-0 in dual matches and reached finals of section individual doubles.

Brian Morton (So.) and Randy Myers (So.), Corona del Mar