Back in 2022 Nolan Grejda and his classmates began moving up the ranks of the Salisbury High School tennis team.

As a sophomore that season, Grejda moved into the No. 1 singles position after playing at No. 3 in his first varsity season. That same year Tristan Monahan, Blaine Berger and Jacob Knerr moved into the starting line up while classmate Ahmed Suleiman and then-freshman Connor Leavy were also part of that team, which had a young nucleus and a bright future.

The future has arrived.

This season Grejda will compete in his third season at the top of the lineup and most of the players behind him have varsity experience from not only last year, but the past two seasons.

“I’m really excited,” said Grejda. “Every year it’s been a climb, getting more wins each season. I have really high hopes for this year.

“Our experience will really help. Two of our singles players are returning this year, in addition to showing our third singles player the ropes. With a strong first doubles team with two seniors, their presence on the court can have a great impact.”

Salisbury improved from four league wins in 2022 to post a 6-3 league record last season and a 7-5 overall mark. This year’s team plans to surpass that and finish with its best season since this class of seniors joined the program.

The Falcons will have to replace a few players who graduated. Last year’s second doubles team was made up of seniors Jackson Kramp and Mohammad Suleiman, who both graduated, along with last year’s No. 2 singles player in Monahan, who was a junior last season but graduated early and is now studying at George Washington University.

Knerr will move up to the No. 2 singles position after playing No. 3 last year. Sophomore Christian Marinos takes over at No. 3 singles this season.

Berger and Ahmed Suleiman return as the Falcons’ first doubles team again this season, while Leavy and senior Han Kloosterman will play at No. 2 doubles.

The Falcons also have several players who could step into the line up if called upon.

“They’re a good group,” said head coach Greg Laub. “It’s wonderful. They all stick together. I’m very proud of them. I have zero worries about kids making eligibility. Jacob is No. 1 in his class.

“I’m really excited about the season. I really think we should be strong again this year.”

Grejda, who also runs cross country and helps serves as a manager for girls tennis and girls basketball, is looking forward to his final season as a Falcon athlete. He’s worked on his game in the offseason and is ready to compete against all of the league’s top players. He expects to have his best season in 2024 and is excited to test it against the top players in the league.

“I feel like I can beat anyone this year,” said Grejda, who added that his confidence is higher than previous years. “Yes, incredibly (more confident than other years). I struggled in the postseason (last year) but this year everything is coming together and I feel the best I ever have.”

As the team’s No. 1 singles player, Grejda hopes to set the tone for his team each match.

“With every match I hope to not only try my hardest, but almost inspire the other guys,” he said. “Last year most of my matches were the longest matches. I hope I can instill a fight in (teammates). Even if you’re down in the score, you need to win points to win the game and if you stay with it you can win.”

Salisbury opens the season Wednesday when it hosts Kutztown in a nonleague match. Colonial Leagu play begins Monday when the Falcons travel to Palisades.

One important stretch of this season will come in late March when Salisbury faces Notre Dame (Green Pond) on Tuesday, March 26, plays a nonleague match against Jim Thorpe the next day before facing the league’s perennial top team in Moravian Academy on Monday, April 1