Women's Tennis "Aces Breast Cancer"
4/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 20, 2010
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Assistant Coach Shelley Godwin discusses "Acing Breast Cancer"
The women's tennis team has made giant strides to create a name for itself in the Greater Lansing community through fundraising and volunteering.
"A group of ten girls can really make a difference."
According to junior Whitney Wilson of the Michigan State women's tennis team and through the actions of the rest of the 2009-10 team, this statement holds nothing but validity.
This season the women's tennis team has made giving back to the community a top priority. New to this year's coaching staff, and the head of "Acing Breast Cancer", is assistant coach Shelley Godwin. Godwin, who of course brings with her years of tennis experience and expertise, has brought something more to help the players develop not only as athletes, but as people. At her alma mater Alabama, Godwin was the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) Representative, making her an instrumental part of coordinating the tennis team's community service activities throughout all of Tuscaloosa.
"It helps the student-athletes see beyond themselves and helps them become better people," says Godwin of the importance of community service for student-athletes. "Ultimately as a coach, you aren't just coaching them as athletes but as people as well.
"So often we can get caught up in our own world and what's going on with us, and it's important for the girls to realize that there is much, much more out there."
"Acing Breast Cancer" was started at the beginning of the season. For every ball a member of the women's tennis team aces, money can be pledged towards the Mid-Michigan affiliate Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The team has compiled a total of 94 aces on the regular season, just six aces shy of its goal. With two matches to go, against Indiana on Saturday, April 24 and Illinois on Sunday, April 25, the Spartans are determined to reach 100 aces over the upcoming weekend to bring the total money "Acing Breast Cancer" has raised to well above the original expectations of $500.
In addition to "Acing Breast Cancer", the girls have also reached out in the Lansing community through a two-day long volunteer mission at the Community Kitchen of Lansing. The kitchen is opened 365 days a year and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner during weekdays, and breakfast and dinner on the weekends. Located at 430 North Larch Street, the Community Kitchen of Lansing has seen a recent increase of 27% in meals served. Since July 1, 2009, the kitchen has served over 43,800 meals. It is estimated that roughly 80% of the people who use the kitchen are those who are homeless.
Headed by Wilson, the team split up into two groups, one helping all-day Saturday and the other lending their assistance the following Sunday. Each group helped prepare food for the afternoon and evening meals, and helped serve breakfast to those who were in attendance in the morning.
"As a team we have a lot of potential to give back to the community," said Wilson. "Doing things like this reminds me of how great I really have things. Going out, putting smiles on people's faces and getting involved is really worth it."
The experience left an impression on the entire team, but for freshman Amy Barton (Brisbane, Australia) it left her with a newfound sense of humility. Barton struck up conversation with a man in attendance and soon discovered he was a Michigan State graduate who had just recently lost his job, wife and his kids, all within the past two years.
"I just realized that could be me, and it really hit home for me," said Barton upon the discovery that the homeless man had received his degree from MSU. "Life can change so quickly and so easily."
For more on volunteer opportunities in the Lansing community, please visit www.voami.org, and for more information, or to make a donation to "Acing Breast Cancer", please contact Shelley Godwin at 517-353-9859.
Players Mentioned
