Boys’ Tennis

* The Proven: Not many Southern Section championship teams could graduate their entire singles lineup and still have a solid chance to repeat, but Corona del Mar isn’t just any school. The Sea Kings don’t seem to know what rebuilding means. In Coach Tim Mang’s eight seasons, Corona del Mar is 134-25 with five league titles, two appearances in the finals and three in the semifinals. Junior Brian Morton and sophomore Cameron Ball replace USC freshmenParker Collins and Christian Jensen--at the top of the lineup. The question is at the No. 3 spot, where junior Hunter Jack’s status is in doubt. Jack broke his collarbone snowboarding and might miss half the season.

* The Promising: University hasn’t won a section title since 1987, but the youthful Trojans might end that drought this season. University, which lost to North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake, 10-8, in last year’s Division II finals, returns sophomores Aaron Yovan and Henry Mak and adds freshman Jack Li to its singles lineup. Jeff Hammond, the Trojans’ first-year coach, might also have the county’s top returning doubles team in sophomores Anson Hsu and Jeff Lawrence. “I’ve got to think our team could beat most Division II and III college teams,” Hammond said.

* Preseason Top 10: 1. Corona del Mar--Winning Pacific Coast League could be tougher task than taking another Division I title; 2. University--Former Coach Josh Davis left the cupboard stocked; 3. Capistrano Valley--This could be the Cougars’ year to dethrone Dana Hills; 4. Los Alamitos--Griffins will miss Cody Jackson and Drew Hoskins, but freshman Kevin McQuaid will help; 5. Woodbridge--No big stars at top of lineup, but Warriors should be deep enough to remain competitive; 6. Sunny Hills--Joseph Kao will need some help if Lancers are going to contend for Division II title; 7. Edison--Senior Jeff Malway and depth in doubles should give Los Alamitos a run for Sunset title; 8. Santa Margarita--Freshman Garrett Snyder leads the Eagles’ resurgence; 9. Dana Hills--Loss of Javier Carrillo and Brian Kent might be too much to overcome; 10. Aliso Niguel--Wolverines expecting big senior season from Jason Mednick.

* Key Dates: March 16-18, National High School Tennis All-American Team Invitational, Palisades Club, Costa Mesa Tennis Center, Newport Beach Tennis Club and Balboa Bay Club Racquet Club; March 28, Corona del Mar at University; April 13, University at Corona del Mar; April 14-22, Easter Bowl Classic, Palm Springs Riviera Resort and Racquet Club; April 27-30, Ojai Valley Tennis tournament; May 16, 18, 23, 25, May 31, Southern Section team playoffs; May 18, 26-27, Southern Section individual playoffs.

* League Favorites: Academy--St. Margaret’s; Century--Canyon; Empire--El Dorado; Freeway--Sunny Hills; Garden Grove--Garden Grove; Golden West--Ocean View; Olympic--Orange Lutheran; Orange--Brea Olinda; Pacific Coast--Corona del Mar; Sea View--Woodbridge; Serra--Santa Margarita; South Coast--Capistrano Valley; Sunset--Los Alamitos.

* Fast Fact: The new century means a changing of the guard on the Orange County tennis scene. All six first- and second-team all-county singles players have either graduated or moved away. Six of the teams ranked in the preseason top 10 have new coaches. . . . Palos Verdes Peninsula is the top-seeded team in the national high school tournament hosted by Corona del Mar. The Sea Kings are seeded second, Cherry Creek, Colo., is third and Michael Krop Senior High of Miami is fourth. The other California teams entered are Beverly Hills, Menlo Atherton, Brentwood, Harvard-Westlake, Bakersfield Centennial and Fresno Clovis West. The championship match is scheduled at 6 p.m. Saturday March 18 at Palisades Tennis Club.