St Joseph’s Swimmers create history with 11 titles
St Joseph’s College swimmers achieved a rare feat in the annuls of school swimming when they created history by emerging victorious at eleven major swimming meets during the 2016 calendar year and the process became the first school in Sri Lanka to do so. The 120 member strong swimming team spearheaded by Eshan Sovis it was like duck taking to waters. They came out on top in major swimming meets which saw them bagging titles at the All Island Schools Games Championship, Age Group Intermediate Championship and the 43rd Sri Lanka All Island Age Group Championship which they won for the 13th successive year to name a few.
Apart from these titles some of their swimmers had the honour of winning individual titles and category titles at these major events. The swimmers achieved this rare feat under the guidance and perseverance of head coach Ruwan Manawadu and his two assistants Jeevan Tharanga and Wenura Sovis with the trio’s hard work and discipline instilled coupled by the dedication of the boys who all underwent three hour training sessions each day before and after school.
The captain Eshan Sovis has been their successful swimmer who is a member of the Sri Lanka swimming team taking part at the 5th Asian Beach Games in Danang, Vietnam with their successful coach Ruwan Manawadu being accompanying the Sri Lanka contingent as the head coach and manager. The achievement of the Josephian swimmers has had the support and backing from the school administrators from Rector Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel, Vice Rector Rev. Fr. Anton Ranjith, Rev. Fr. Milan Bernard, Professor of Games and Teacher in Charge Mrs. Malka Jayasinghe.
The 11 titles
1. 43rd Ambalangoda Two Mile Sea Swim Champions. 2. 79th Annual Mt Lavinia Two Mile Swim U15 Champions – Nuvinu Perera 1st Place. 3. Pentathlon Swimming Champions. 4. 4th Annual Sri Lanka Schools All Island Age Group Novice Champions. 5. Sri Lanka Aquatic Sports Union Novices Aquatic Champions. 6. National Age Group Relay Champions. 7. Junior National Short Course Swimming Champions – Shevinda de Silva Under 15 Champion. 8. 42nd National Age Group Champions. 9. All Island School Game Champions. 10. National Age Group Intermediate Champions. 11. 43rd Sri Lanka Schools All Island Age Group Champions (Under 15, Under 19 and Senior Champions) for the 13th Successive Year.
