Family share tears of joy

Will Johnston

Taranaki’s Anna Crowley was trying to hold back tears when she told her family about her Blacksticks call-up.

The Southern Alpiners defender was cooking dinner when she was phoned by coach Graham Show to join the squad of 25 in preparation for the Olympics in Tokyo next year.

To say she was not expecting it would be an understatement. Her goal for next year was the make the Junior World Cup team.

Dinner plans were halted, and she Facetimed her parents, Alan and Sue, and brothers, Daniel and Logan, while she was holding back tears.  

“Mum thought something bad had happened to me, but I then told them the news and they were so stoked for me. Mum and Dad both shed a few tears. It was a pretty special moment.”

She puts her selection down to the coaches she’s had throughout her hockey career in Taranaki, Central Districts and in Christchurch, where she is now based.

“They each have challenged me in different ways and pushed me outside my comfort zone to make sure that I’m getting the best out of myself.”

She also credited her family and friends for backing her 100 per cent.

Crowley joins Hope Ralph and Holly Pearson in the squad, who have all played at Sacred Heart Girls College.

“To think that one sleepover at Hope’s house when I was about nine or ten led me to filling in and playing my first ever game, to now both of us being named in the Blacksticks is very surreal.

“To be honest, if it wasn’t for that sleepover, who knows, I might have never got into playing hockey,” she said.

The trio could potentially join swimmer Zac Reid as the next Taranaki Olympians after he qualified on Sunday.

Crowley comes from a strong sporting pedigree.

Her father, Alan was well known as a gifted rugby halfback who was unlucky not to be an All Black. He played 82 games for Taranaki between 1984-1995 and made the New Zealand Colts and New Zealand sevens teams. Anna’s brothers Daniel and Logan play premier rugby for Coastal. Logan also represented Taranaki 14 times before moving to Southland in 2019.

Her mother, Sue, a former Taranaki netballer of note, said she was blown away when Anna called to tell her the news.

“We are very proud. Still very surreal.”

She said it was crazy to have three girls from Sacred Heart who started playing together when they were 11, now in the Blacksticks together.

Hope’s mum, Karla, coached the trio at Sacred Heart, in the Northern club and for Taranaki age groups.

She said the three had an incredible work ethic, pure focus, drive to succeed and dedication to achieve.

“They work hard both on and off the field.”

Taranaki Hockey executive officer Denise Hill said the organisation was proud of the players.

“It is a reflection on their dedication, mahi and love of the sport but is also a reflection of the local coaches and supporters.

The current squad of 25 will be reduced to 19 for the Olympics.

Crowley said it would be hard work being a new player trying to earn an Olympic spot.

“I will 100 per cent be putting my best foot forward,” she said.

The squad assembles in January to begin preparations for the Oceania Cup and Tokyo.  

Pictured: From left, Holly Pearson, Anna Crowley and Hope Ralph.