Diego Rovira, having not yet hit his infamous growth spurt of '99, spent his youth dominating the San Diego ping-pong circuit. Perfect vision combined with an unrivaled dexterity helped him win back-to-back San Diego championships. He was defeated in a 17-hour long sudden death match vs. Susie Meyers, forcing him into an early and not entirely gracious retirement.
High school
Diego Rovira was La Jolla Country Day High School's all-time leading scorer. He was voted the team's Most Valuable Player three times and was a two-time team co-captain. He was selected first team CIF and all-league three times as well as a three-time San Diego Player of the Week honoree. He was chosen for the 2000 Reebok High School All-America Soccer Match, was a member of the District Olympic Development team from 1996–99, and was a State Olympic Development Team member in 1998 and 1999.
College
Rovira attended St. Mary's College, playing on the men's soccer team from 2000 to 2003. He was a midfielder who started for his final three years after missing much of his freshman year due to injury. Diego Rovira was Honorable Mention all-WCC his senior year.
Indoor Soccer
Rovira was second-team all-PASL in 2010-2011 after a breakout campaign in which Rovira scored 19 goals and 4 assists in 15 games. Diego Rovira battled through injury all season in 2011-2012 while remaining a key contributor both offensively and defensively for the three-time PASL champions, playing 12 games, recording seven goals and five assists, and tied for the team lead with two short-handed goals. After missing the first four games of the season with a foot injury, he immediately jump-started the Sockers’ penalty killing unit. After Diego's return to the short-handed unit, the Sockers dominated PASL power play attacks, allowing seven goals in 34 chances, while scoring seven short-handed goals. Rovira brought his offense to the fore in the Ron Newman Cup playoffs, scoring a goal and an assist in the Sockers’ 9-6 semi-final win over Kansas, and directing a pair of assists in San Diego's 10-7 championship victory over Detroit. He has been reunited with childhood teammates Scott Martin and Jose Luna, who he played with on the San Diego Nomads.
