Between raindrops and a coaching change, the perennially powerful South Whidbey High School tennis team hasn’t skipped a beat this spring.

The Falcons defeated 3A Oak Harbor 5-2 Thursday, April 12, to run its record to 4-0 this season.

Tom Kramer took over as coach in the late 1970s and built South Whidbey into one of Washington’s most successful programs. When he stepped down several years ago, his daughter Karyle Kramer continued the Falcons’ winning ways.

Karyle Kramer is taking a leave of absence this spring, and current co-coaches Jennifer Gochanour and Bess Windecker-Nelson have kept the Falcons on track.

The success of this year’s team is because of the Kramers and the kids, according to Windecker-Nelson.

“They deserve all the credit,” she said. “We are justing holding the court until Karyle returns.”

The team, Windecker-Nelson said, has been good to work with in spite of constant rainouts and the switch in coaches.

“We have great girls on the team,” Windecker-Nelson said. “They are really supportive and are willing to jump right in to fill the gaps.”

The weather this spring is better than last year, Gochanour said, and that has helped the team improve its talent.

“The players’ skills progress so much more quickly when we are hitting four-to-five days a week on the courts, and I feel like everyone — from our most experienced to our least experienced players — have demonstrated growth in their skills both physically and mentally,” Gochanour said.

The Falcon varsity is unbeaten this year and the junior varsity is 3-1. While the wins are nice, according to Gochanour, it is more important that the “players are growing and improving every day.”

The Falcons have three matches next week, starting with a trip to Granite Falls (3-2) at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18.

Results of Oak Harbor match

Singles: 1, Farris Jokinen won 6-2, 6-4; 2, Ashley Ricketts lost 6-3, 6-2; 3, Lynda Moran lost 6-1, 6-1; 4, Ally Lynch won 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles: 1, Mary Zisette/Alison Papritz won 6-0, 6-0; 2, Robynn Maciel/Ainsley Nelson won 6-1, 6-1; 3, Elizabeth Simmons/McKenna Kelley won 6-3, 6-1.

Farris Jokinen serves during her first singles win Thursday. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News Group)

McKenna Kelley fires a serve against Oak Harbor. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News Group)

Ally Lynch focuses on a return shot. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News Group)

Robynn Maciel smacks a forehand in second doubles Thursday. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News Group)

Lynda Moran competes in third singles for the Falcons against Oak Harbor. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News Group)

Ainsley Nelson shoots a backhand for South Whidbey. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News Group)

Alison Papritz punches a backhand in the Oak Harbor match. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News Group)

Elizabeth Simmons returns a serve in third doubles. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News Group)

Mary Zisette runs down a shot in her win in first doubles Thursday. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News Group)