Kingswood Water Polo Stars to Represent South Africa on the World Stage
Kingswood College is celebrating the outstanding achievements of these two exceptional water polo players, Megan Sheard and Lily Collins, who have both been selected to represent South Africa at the prestigious World Aquatics Championships in Europe.
Grade 10 pupil Lily Collins will compete in the World Aquatics U16 Women’s Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, from 25 to 31 July, while Grade 12 pupil and Kingswood’s 1st team Water Polo Captain, Megan Sheard, has been selected for the World Aquatics U18 Women’s Championship in Tenerife, Spain, from 16 to 23 August.
Their selection is a testament to years of dedication, perseverance and hard work, and reflects the strength of Kingswood College’s water polo programme, supported by outstanding coaching and a culture that encourages pupils to pursue excellence.
For Megan, who grew up on a farm outside Cathcart in the Eastern Cape, the journey began in Grade 4 when she first picked up a water polo ball with a friend. “I had so much fun and immediately fell in love with the sport,” she recalls. Since then, she has represented Eastern Province from Grade 7 and previously earned South African colours when she travelled to Türkiye with the U16 national team in Grade 10.
Being selected for the U18 World Championship is, she says, her greatest sporting achievement to date. She attributes her success to resilience and determination. “I never gave up when things became difficult, especially with all the training and preparation before tournaments. I always try to push myself to become better after every practice and training session.”
Megan also captains the Kingswood 1st hockey team, balancing two demanding sports while continuing to excel in both. She is particularly grateful for the guidance of Kingswood’s Head of Water Polo and 1st team coach, Mr Kyle Kumm.
“He has really helped me become the best player I can be by teaching me new things and always pushing and encouraging me. He is always there if I need help.”
Looking ahead to the tournament in Spain, Megan hopes to continue developing her fitness and strength while gaining valuable international experience and learning from players around the world.
For Lily Collins, who grew up in East London, water polo began almost by chance. A competitive swimmer, she decided to try the sport in Grade 6 as an additional summer activity. Starting in her school’s U13 social team, she quickly discovered a passion for the game and committed herself to improving through consistent training at HPP Water Polo Club under coaches Paige Meecham and Olympian Chloe Meecham.
Her rapid development saw her represent Border at U13 level, Nelson Mandela Bay at U14 level, South Africa’s U15 Gold Team at the CANA Zone IV Championships in Zimbabwe, and now the South African U16 team at the World Championships in Croatia.
Reflecting on her latest achievement, Lily believes discipline and consistency have been key.
“I worked hard, tried to keep improving my skills, and made sure I gave my best in every opportunity. I stayed positive under pressure and was always willing to learn from constructive criticism.”
Alongside water polo, Lily also represents her province in hockey and continues to enjoy competitive swimming during the summer months. She credits several coaches for helping her reach this level, including Coach Masi, Kingswood’s Mr Kyle Kumm, and her East London coaches, Paige and Chloe Meecham.
Both Megan and Lily serve as wonderful role models for younger Kingswood pupils, demonstrating what can be achieved through commitment, perseverance and a willingness to embrace every opportunity.
Kingswood College congratulates Megan and Lily on their remarkable achievements and wishes them every success as they proudly represent South Africa on the international stage. The entire Kingswood community will be cheering them on as they compete against the world’s best and continue to inspire the next generation of water polo players.