Four years ago when Karyle Kramer took over the Falcon boys tennis program, it was in a bit of disarray.

Top players weren’t interested in returning. The rest of the boys who showed up wanted to play tennis, but weren’t dedicated to it as other cohorts were in years past.

Now, the Falcons are loaded with 30 athletes, have a nearly even split across each grade, and some have committed to tennis. Having sent three players to the tri-district tournament last year, two of whom returned this season, the program has come a long way.

“I have a good feeling that this year will be a good one for the Falcon tennis team,” said Falcon senior Jonathon Peterson, one of the players to reach the 1A tri-district tournament.

Take Peterson, a four-year Falcon tennis player, for example. He started as a three-sport athlete whose primary game was soccer. He gave that up last year to focus on tennis, traveling twice each week to Mill Creek/South Everett to the Columbia Athletic Club’s indoor courts and workout facility.

Peterson and other returning Falcons spent time during the offseason, and especially the summer, playing tennis. The goal is that work will give them a leg up by their first meet with Seattle Academy on Sept. 9 at South Whidbey High School.

With Coupeville’s departure from the Cascade Conference, South Whidbey was the only 1A school in the league with a tennis program. That led the Falcons to a travel-heavy conference in King County against five private schools and two 2A teams.

“We’re playing a lot of small private schools with a lot of kids playing club tennis … that we’re really going to have to fight to beat,” Peterson said.

One of Kramer’s great strengths, Peterson said, is her ability to mentally prepare the Falcons. He admitted to having a history of quickly getting down on himself after a few mistakes or losing a set, but Peterson said Kramer has worked on building up his mental fortitude.

“If you don’t have your head, your body’s not going to do what you want,” said Peterson, quoting a phrase Kramer has said to him.

South Whidbey has an easy road to the 1A District 1 tournament this season. Moving on from there will be the true challenge, as the Falcons will face familiar foes from Whatcom County.

Regardless of the Falcons’ schedule — heavy with private schools such as University Prep and The Bush School, both in Seattle — Peterson said he believes the squad can send at least two players into the postseason.

“Once we get going into the season, we should have a very successful run.”

2014 Falcon boys tennis schedule

Tuesday, Sept. 9 vs. Seattle Academy *

2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10 vs. Bellingham *

Thursday, Sept. 11 vs. AMHS *

Monday, Sept. 15 at University Prep

Wednesday, Sept. 17 vs. Bear Creek *

Thursday, Sept. 18 at Overlake

Tuesday, Sept. 23 vs. Bush *

Thursday, Sept. 25 vs. Coupeville *

Tuesday, Sept. 30 at Seattle Academy

Thursday, Oct. 2 at AMHS

Tuesday, Oct. 7 vs. University Prep *

4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Bear Creek

Friday, Oct. 10 at Anacortes

Tuesday, Oct. 14 vs. Overlake *

5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Bush

Friday, Oct. 17 vs. Anacortes *

* Home match

All matches begin at 3:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted.