Selwyn_Times: June 21, 2023

Wednesday June 21 2023 Selwyn Times
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
SPORT 19
Siblings both named in NZ teams
It’s been a whirlwind
fortnight for the
Surman family, with
Finn and Nia, from
Prebbleton, named in
senior New Zealand
squads within days of
each other. Reporter
Jaime Cunningham
talks to Nia and her
mum Suzie about the
family success
SUZIE SURMAN admits she’s
felt slightly overwhelmed of
late. Two of her teenage kids,
Finn and Nia, were named to
represent the All Whites and
Volley Ferns for the first time
respectively, within a week.
But Suzie takes no credit for
the success of both 19-year-old
Finn, who was called up to the
All Whites following a superb
Junior All Whites campaign at
the under-20 FIFA World Cup
last month, and 18-year-old Nia,
who will arrive in Chile with the
Volley Ferns on Monday.
“The only credit I can take is
driving them around,” she said.
“But I’m immensely proud
of them because they’ve put in
so much effort and it’s just an
amazing acknowledgement for
PROUD PARENTS: Suzie and Matthew Surman watch on
as son Finn captains New Zealand at the under-20 World
Cup in Argentina last month.
both of them.”
Unlike a lot of famous sporting
families, neither Suzie nor
husband Matthew Surman
introduced their children to the
sports they play by competing at
a high-level themselves.
“I don’t know where they got it
from,” Suzie said.
“Matthew plays canoe polo,
which didn’t really grab them.
“As parents we’ve just been
encouraging and more like taxi
drivers.”
Although Finn is in Europe for
All Whites duties, Nia said it’s a
special moment for both of them
to be named within days of each
other.
“But obviously it would’ve
been better if Finn was back here
(to celebrate),” she said.
“We’ve pushed each other
throughout our childhood, so it’s
super exciting.”
While Finn has been in the
professional sporting environment
since joining the Wellington
Phoenix in 2021, Nia is new
to the Volley Ferns and will start
studying kinesiology (science
of movement) on a volleyball
scholarship at Wyoming’s Casper
College next month.
“I’ve been in the under-19
squad before, but it’s quite a new
experience with all the players
that are based overseas,” Nia,
who plays for Smash Volleyball
in Christchurch, said.
Nia gave up rhythmic gymnastics
after 10 years to take up the
sport, but says her reflexes and
flexibility from gymnastics are
useful as a libero in volleyball.
“I’m the shortest in the team
at 5’6” ft (1.67m) but I don’t
play front court so being short
works,” she said.
Nia believes playing a range of
both individual and team sports,
such as athletics and swimming
alongside gymnastics, “definitely
helped” her success in volleyball.
The youngest Surman sibling,
16-year-old Freya, is following in
Nia’s footsteps by playing alongside
her older sister for Smash.
The Year 12 Lincoln High
student also plays for the school’s
‘As parents we’ve just been
encouraging and more like
taxi drivers’ – Suzie Surman
senior A side as well as the 1st XI
hockey team.
“Finn and Nia, as well as Freya,
have an immense sense of loyalty
to their sports,” Suzie said.
She believes her children’s
diligence to their sports, as well
as their talent, is why they have
seen such success.
“There are loads of people out
there with a heap of talent but
if they don’t push themselves,
they’re not going to use it,” she
said.
“Both Finn and Nia are very
humble and quiet, and they just
get on to it.”
• Bella’s big day in Berlin,
page 26; young driver’s team
switch pays off, page 29
Surman siblings Nia, 18
(left), and Finn, 19, with
younger sister Freya, 16, at
Christmas.
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