The Spirit Leads

TEAM FORMS BOND WITH PRAYER

By Ron Cioffi

With hands held in a large circle the Women’s 3.0 team from South Carolina begins each match with prayer.

Captain Susan Crane high-fives partner Donna Shevchik. Teammates on the South Carolina Women's 3.0 team compete above.

For the ladies from Lexington, this is a special bonding experience that has formed a special spiritual bond that makes the team stronger and closer.

“We pray right before each match,” captain Susan Crane explained. “It brings us together. It brings us peace and serenity.”

They also pray as a group before their meals.

Donna Shevchik, Crane’s doubles partner, added, “Everybody is spiritual. You have to know what comes first in life and it’s not tennis.”

Crane said, “We have different denominations but that doesn’t make a difference. Our devotion helps relieve stress, whether it be financial or other stresses in your life.”

Crane is also devoted to USTA League Tennis as she has been the captain of numerous teams at the same time and reached to the Sectionals with three mixed, one combo and this team. “I try to be very organized and use players on each team to help me.”