If you asked Peyton Dunkle as a kid whether she’d play tennis at Cal Poly, she would’ve laughed. Back then, tennis was just something she participated in, not always willingly. Dunkle enjoyed and excelled in Irish Dance, soccer, and softball, but tennis was always around.
Growing up, it wasn’t about records, titles, or even college. It was a way to compete, spend time with family, and even bring out the occasional argument with her dad and coach Bill Dunkle and older sister Delanie.
Peyton first picked up a racket when she was two. Now at 22, she’s devoted her life to the game, and it’s hard to imagine she could completely walk away from tennis.
She is now leaving Cal Poly as one of the most decorated players in program history.
Her record boasts 52 wins, the 2024 Big West Champion title, and multiple first-team all-conference singles and doubles accolades. But she wants her legacy as a tennis player to transcend just her wins and losses.
“I want to dedicate these four years at Cal Poly, and my whole tennis career to my dad,” Dunkle said. “He gave everything so my siblings and I could play this game at such a high level.”
After four years with the Mustangs, Peyton is feeling the emotions of her collegiate tennis career coming to a close.
“At the beginning of the season, I was like, ‘I won’t be picking up a racket again for a long time,’” Dunkle said. “But as it gets close to the end, I’m going to miss the game and our team so much.”
Her tennis journey began with a fierce competitive drive. And her tennis relationship with her father was sometimes rocky, but she knew it came from a place of love and desire for her to be great.
“Everything came pretty naturally for Peyton; it was about getting her to put the extra effort in to be great in tennis,” Bill Dunkle said. “We bribed her with Lululemon if she played well, we wanted her to find the joy in the sport to keep her going.”
Dunkle grew up 15 minutes from Cal Poly in Arroyo Grande, and it was always her dream to get as far away from the Central Coast as possible and see the world.
The eventual all-time wins leader did not even consider becoming a Mustang during her recruiting process. And when her sister Delanie committed to Cal Poly, Peyton was even more against the idea of going to Cal Poly.
“I did not want to stay here at all, I had to get away and see the world,” Dunkle said.
Soon after Delanie started her Cal Poly career, Peyton learned more about the team, coaches and culture. Her mind slowly started to shift and soon welcomed the idea of following in her sister’s footsteps.
“I remember the moment that my mind instantly changed,” Dunkle said. “I was a senior in high school, sitting on the parking garage watching Melissa [LaMette] play, and she was undefeated on the season. I wanted that type of success.”
Peyton looks up to her older sister Delanie, who played five years at Cal Poly. She is remembered as one of the top Cal Poly women’s tennis players with 45 career singles wins and a Big West Championship title.
“Delanie and my dad had an amazing connection on the court, that honestly I was jealous about sometimes,” Dunkle said. “But I learned from her, from them, how to carry myself and how to compete in every match and practice.”
The Dunkle duo formed a partnership in that 2024 Big West Championship run, going 13-6 on the season playing at line No. 1. Looking back, this wouldn’t have been possible.
“It’s funny thinking about the times Delanie and I have had playing tennis, one of us would always end up crying or mad when we were kids,” Dunkle said. “And then last year, the whole reason why I played so hard was to win the championship for the seniors, Delanie and Melissa.”
Dunkle has fought to a 15-3 record in singles play this year. Her most recent victory at home against UC Irvine was a win that put her over the top and led the program with 52 singles victories.
“We didn’t really bring it up until it was all said and done. But we knew she knew about it and wanted to leave her mark here,” Bill Dunkle said. “You could see the determination on her face. We’re so proud of her as a tennis player and the woman she’s become.”
What makes the moment of capturing the record even more surreal is that she was able to break the all-time record on Senior Day, her last home match of her career, in front of over 30 long-time supporters of hers, including the whole Dunkle family.
“I didn’t really build up this moment in my head, but once I was getting close, I was like ‘Woah, this is big,’” Dunkle said. “I was playing for everyone who was out watching and supporting me.”
For head coach Ellie Edles Williams, it was a surreal moment, she’s coached Peyton since childhood at the San Luis Obispo Country Club, witnessing both her struggles and triumphs.
Williams started her Senior Day speech and, with a huge smile, let everyone know they were looking at the winningest player in Cal Poly history.
“I’m short of words to describe how proud of her I am, as a remarkable player and a person,” Williams said. “This is an incredible feat to win that many matches, and it adds to her unbelievable career.”
Dunkle has been an inspiration to many of her teammates when she takes the court, given her natural ability to compete and drive for winning.
Junior Sasha Ozerets, one of Peyton’s best friends and roommate, has been touched by her greatness.
“It is so inspiring to see all the work Peyton puts in,” Ozerets said. “With Peyton leaving next year, I am definitely going to have to pretend that she is still here to push me. She has taught me so much about life and being a leader, and I look up to her a lot.”
Even though Peyton won’t be a current Mustang in 2026, she has left a mark, from lessons to legacy that will far outlive her four years, propelling and excelling the women’s tennis program.
One lesson that Peyton hopes she can pass on to her teammates is the idea of battling and overcoming impostor syndrome.
“When I first got here and started playing in college, there were times I felt like I wasn’t good enough or didn’t have as much belief in myself as I should’ve,” Dunkle said. “If I could go back and tell my younger self anything, I would say to always believe you belong here and are good at tennis.”
With the game of tennis being so much of a mental game, the importance of a leader who has seen ups and downs is essential.
The message has been working so far, and the growth and confidence within the women’s tennis family help keep the program successful.
“She’s inspirational, I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Peyton since she was a little kid was doing so many other things outside of tennis,” Williams said. “To see her give tennis a chance and achieve everything she has done for the Cal Poly program is wild. Thank you, Peyton.”
