SPORTS STORIES:
SPORTS INFORMATION—2009
Soccer's Wimalasena In A Groove on the field and dance floor...
CLEVELAND, OH (October 15, 2009) -Case Western Reserve sophomore soccer defender Niro Wimalasena (Mason, OH) has some of the best foot skills of any player at the Division III level. Wimalasena has also put those foot skills to use in an arena far different from soccer; the dance floor. He is a member of EKTA Fusion, the on campus Indian & hip hop dance team.
Click here to watch EKTA Fusion’s performance at the Fusion Dance Competition at Xavier University last spring.
After performing in a fall cultural show as a favor, Wimalasena was asked to try out for the Fusion squad and made it. With the support of his soccer teammates, he has stuck with dance and finds in rather enjoyable.
“I constantly strive to engage in activities that bring happiness into my life,” said Wimalasena. “Dance has definitely done just that.”
So which is tougher, getting ready for a big conference soccer match or performing a dance routine at competition?
“It’s two completely different dynamics,” explained Wimalasena. “For dance you can do all the preparation you need. If you know your routine, you are golden and just have to be confident in your ability to do it and execute. With soccer you can’t really predict what you are getting into, especially if the elements are changing. If it is raining or windy then the game completely changes. The ability in soccer to anticipate and adapt to those changes is something that isn’t prevalent in dance.”
Wimalasena has taken those challenges soccer provided and ran with them. As a freshman in 2008, he joined a senior laden team with big expectations. Wimalasena started from game one and the team achieved a 13-5-1 record, second best in program history. He earned honorable mention All-University Athletic Association (UAA) honors for his performance.
“It was definitely a little intimidating coming into the team, not really knowing too many people and being a starter,” said Wimalasena. “I was unsure as to how other people were reacting in regards to a freshman starting, so that definitely was a new experience for me. It was great playing with (graduated seniors Kevin Bigart, Zeyad Schwen, Matt Paglia) and the other very talented players.”
Having graduated the best soccer class in school history, new leaders were needed to fill those big shoes. Being one of the most experienced players on the team, Wimalasena was pegged to fill a leadership role.
“At the end of the season last year, (Head Coach Dan Palmer) said that he wanted me to step up as one of the leaders on the team, even though I am not an upperclassman,” said the sophomore. "I believe I’ve done a pretty good job of that. Being one of the center backs it is important that you are giving direction to the rest of the team and I’ve definitely stepped up in that role.”
After a shaky 0-2-1 start, the soccer team gelled quickly and has gone 6-2-2 since.
“Obviously having lost ten seniors last year, we were a little unsure as to who would fill those roles,” explained Wimalasena. “The first couple games we struggled a little bit communication wise and team chemistry wise, but as the season has progressed, we’ve definitely started coming together as a team.”
Sophomores don’t often have major real world experience but Wimalasena was able to get some this past summer as an intern at Proctor and Gamble.
“Ever since I was in high school I knew I wanted to work for Proctor and Gamble one day,” said Wimalasena. “During my internship this past summer, I worked primarily with virtually modeling materials. Part of my assignment was to help determine the minimum strength requirements for certain materials in a new Pampers diaper design to ensure steadfast product integrity while making these product changes.”
Wimalasena enjoyed his experience at P&G and has already received an offer to return next summer, which he has accepted.
Dance team is not Wimalasena’s only interest away from soccer. He is also a first-degree black belt in karate. However, for the time being, he has given up the hobby to focus on soccer.
“Once I started getting into high school I had to make decisions as to which sports I would be continuing. I decided to give up karate to continue playing soccer,” said Wimalasena. “Once I finish college, I would like to get back into it to learn the art of weapons which would be cool.”
So how does a background in karate translate to the soccer field?
“I think karate helps me with my mental focus in soccer,” explained Wimalasena. “In karate one of the biggest things while performing katas (forms) or sparing is that you need to be able to concentrate. With sparing, in particular, you need to anticipate where your opponent is going and maintain your composure if you get hit. I believe those learning’s from karate have translated onto the field.”
Whether it’s defending an adversary’s knifehand strike or an opponent’s odd man rush, Wimalasena has proven to be first rate. Nonetheless, academics still comes before any sports or pastimes. Wimalasena holds a 3.77 GPA as a chemical engineering major and economics minor and was named a Case-Scholar Athlete in 2008.
“I came to school to get a good engineering education and playing soccer is for my own happiness,” said Wimalasena. “Case places a great emphasis on academics then athletics and I really liked that which was my biggest reason for coming here. Chemical engineering isn’t the easiest field to do, but Coach Palmer has been great about being lenient on going to (supplemental instruction) sessions over practice. Overall I think I do a pretty good job of balancing work and practice.”
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