Wesley enjoys resounding success after introducing swimming squad
Wesley College assembled its inaugural swimming squad in August 2012 under the guidance of experienced coaches Asoka Serasingha, Edward Vandendriesen and Anton Silva. The trio did a tremendous job to achieve great heights in a short period in swimming. The Teacher-in-Charge of swimming, Shyamali Parera too played an encouraging role.
Mario Gurusingha had the honour of captaining Wesley’s inaugural swimming squad which competed for the first time as a team at the sixth Sri Lanka Schools’ Age Group, Aquatic Sports Novices where Shamod Athulathmudali won a bronze medal. The squad also participated in the 2013 Novices Aquatic Championships, where Shamod Athulathmudali went on to win a gold medal.
This is an achievement which can be considered quite significant for Wesley, a school which did not have a swimming pool of their own for a long while. However Wesley were able to produce these talented swimmers by making good use of the swimming complex built at the school.
Wesley College was established in 1874 and during its 139- year history has pro- duced many swimmers. But moulding great swimmers proved challenging without a proper swimming pool. Fulfilling this requirement was a dream come true and many principals in the past worked hard towards this goal.
However, when Dr. Shanthi Mclleland assumed duty as the principal in 2009, he focused on this long-held need. His vision and the tireless efforts of Old Boys, parents and well- wishers supported the completion of this task and the swimming pool was completed in March, 2012 on Founder’s Day.
The first-ever swimming squad of Wesley is led by Mario Gurusingha and includes Rakeed Sheriff, Shamod Athulathmudali, Wahid Hassen, Rigesh Murlidaran, Abdullah Siddique, Atheeq Amir, Murthaaz Abdul Barry, Lakidu Peries, Michael Fernando, Nabeel Abdul Barry, Akif Ahamed, Senuda Perera, Eman Firdouse, Senuda Athauda, Yasir Lat e e f, Imesh Abeygunawardana, Tariq Draheem, Shenon Gunasekara, Oshan Hashim, Aaqib Thahir, Ayesh Abeygoonawardana, Shehab Pakeerali, Harishan Jeyachandra, Romal Batz, Shawn Gunasekara, Rahul Vi t h a n a g e, Nav i n d u Amarasingha, Shiran Danushka, Bawantha B a d d awe l a , Shohail Kitchilan, Rahal Vithanage, Vihan Kapuarchchi, Sachira Abeywardana, Dinidu Bandara, Ayub Ali and Kisho Kanth.