Richard Dunn
Even though Newport Harbor High had been around since 1930, the
school didn't win any CIF Southern Section championships until the 1960s.
And, like the first of anything, winning the school's first CIF title
in boys tennis in the spring of 1967 was extra sweet for then-freshman
Rob Cunningham, who grew up with a bunch of Lido Isle tennis hounds.
"Our tennis team was the first team to win CIF, then, real soon, water
polo was right behind us," Cunningham said, referring to the Sailors'
boys water polo championship in the fall of '67, its first of 11 CIF
titles under Coach Bill Barnett.
Known as Robbie throughout his early years, Cunningham felt fortunate
to letter on Coach Wayne Horowitz's '67 tennis team, which featured Jim
Ogle and defeated Santa Monica in the CIF Finals, ending the Vikings'
then-unprecedented streak of five straight CIF titles.
"It was tough lettering my freshman year," said Cunningham, who became
one of the most decorated players in Newport Harbor and Orange Coast
College history, before earning a tennis scholarship to the University of
Arizona.
As a senior, Cunningham captured the CIF doubles championship with
teammate Glenn Cripe in 1970 -- still Newport Harbor's only CIF doubles
title.
Cunningham, Cripe and Bob Ogle were the keys to the Sailors' second
CIF team title in '70, after two years of playing bridesmaid to Rolling
Hills. Coach Pat Wilson's Sailors remained a CIF power through 1974.
Cunningham and Cripe also won the 1970 doubles title at the Ojai Valley
Tennis Tournament.
After Newport Harbor, Cunningham played one season at OCC and
dominated the community college men's tennis scene, winning every title
possible, including the state singles championship.
Cunningham, the South Coast Conference and Southern California singles
champion in 1971, also claimed another Ojai doubles title that year with
Art Rosetti.
Cunningham, who played No. 3 singles for Coach Maurice Gerard's
Pirates, behind Rosetti and Mike Caro, beat his teammates in the Southern
California final in San Diego (Caro) and state final in Northern
California (Rosetti).
"I guess I must have come on at the end of the year," said Cunningham,
the only Orange Coast tennis player ever to be voted OCC Male Athlete of
the Year ('71).
At Arizona, Cunningham and his brother, Lawrie, reached the NCAA Round
of 16 in doubles. Lawrie Cunningham, a Vietnam veteran, was awarded a
tennis scholarship to Arizona after his term in the U.S. Navy.
