From ice rinks in Canada to sailing waters in Turkey and athletics tracks in California, they competed on the world stage. The following highlights showcase the variety of sports in which Dio students have gained valuable international experience, from individual events such as fencing, rhythmic gymnastics and triathlon, to team sports including rowing, hockey and water polo.
Archery
Yanlin Yang (10NE) and Ashley Zu (Year 8) represented New Zealand at the 2025 Trans-Tasman Challenge in Christchurch. Yanlin competed in the U-16 recurve division, while Ashley participated in the open women’s barebow category.
Artistic gymnastics
Sarah Kennard (Year 10) represented New Zealand at the 2025 WOGA Classic in the Junior age division (Level 9), placing third on bars, fourth on floor, and fourth overall. Her New Zealand team also finished third overall in February. She was subsequently selected to represent New Zealand at the 2025 Artistic Junior World Championships in Manila, Philippines, in November at the Junior International level.
Athletics
Jacqui Nasrabadi (Year 13) was one of 16 athletes selected for the New Zealand team competing in California, participating at the Arcadia Invitational, Mt San Antonio College and Santa Barbara. Her selection followed strong performances at the NZ Secondary Schools’ Championships and Summer Classics events.
Sina-Maria Su’a (Year 9), national U-16 shot put and discus champion, set a new world best in the U-14 girls’ discus with a throw of 48.86m, surpassing a record set in 1990. Her success is supported by coach Walter Gill.
In October, Year 12 student Hannah McManus represented New Zealand at the 2025 Oceania Cup in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. The event brings together athletes from across the Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. Hannah competed in the 800m, 1500m and 4x400m relays, gaining valuable international experience. She was also named as a non-travelling reserve for the Australian All Schools Cross Country Championships.
Cross Country
Maddie Worrall (Year 11) represented the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Cross Country team at the Australia School Sport Championships in Queensland in September. She finished 16th overall in the 16–17-year-old girls’ category and placed fourth among her New Zealand age group peers.
Fencing
Bowie Wang (Year 11) represented New Zealand at the World Cadet and World Junior Championships in China, finishing 86th and 125th respectively. She also travelled to Australia for the Asian Championship qualification and was nominated for the national team.
In New Zealand, Bowie placed second at the U-17 Nationals, contributed to the North Island team’s gold and won the North Island Secondary Schools’ women’s foil. She also competed at the Asian Senior Championships in Bali, placing 42nd individually and helping New Zealand to 14th overall.
Figure skating
In May, Year 12 student Christine Aixinjueluo represented New Zealand at the Oceania International Figure Skating Competition in Melbourne, Australia. She placed fifth in the short programme and fourth in the free skate with her new routine.
Golf
Teresa Wang has had an outstanding year in golf, shining both here in New Zealand and on the international stage. She was the U-16 champion at the New Zealand Golf Age Group Championships and earned selection into the Golf NZ Development Squad. She also secured her World Ranking card, opening the door to compete at world-level events. On the international stage she represented New Zealand at the Toyota Junior World Championships and then went on to claim an incredible second place at the FCG Callaway World Championships. Her achievements this year reflect not just her talent, but her discipline and commitment to the sport. Teresa is a young golfer with a very exciting future ahead.
Queenie Lang has also made her mark in golf this year, earning selection into the Golf NZ Development Squad and securing her World Ranking card. She has already stepped onto the international stage, at the IMG Junior Championships and the FCG Callaway World Championships, gaining invaluable experience against some of the best young golfers in the world.
Hockey
In January, Year 13 student Livvy Barker was named in the New Zealand U-21 Black Sticks Women’s squad and made her debut in a practice match against the New Zealand Māori team. Her strong performance in this match, combined with her contributions to the U-18 Auckland campaign, led to her selection for the U-21 squad that played a series of games in Japan in October.
Ice hockey
MeiMei Keith (Year 9) has been selected to represent the New Zealand U-18 Ice Hockey team set to compete at the World Championships in 2026.
Inline hockey
MeiMei Keith (Year 9) also competed at the Tasmanian Cup in Australia, scoring several goals as her team went unbeaten to win gold. She also represents Auckland in ice hockey and trialled for the Ice Ferns.
Orienteering
Cerys Findlow (Year 11) and Charlotte Dalziel (Year 11) were selected for the U-16 women’s team competing at the European Youth Orienteering Championships in Brno, Czechia, in July. For Cerys, it was her second international experience, while Charlotte was competing overseas for the first time – an amazing achievement for both.
Rhythmic gymnastics
In May, Louella Chabel-T (Year 11) spent two weeks in Canada competing at the Koop Cup and the Manitoba Provincial Championships, achieving podium finishes in all events. She carried this strong form into the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ competition in August, finishing second overall in Level 8 and placing first in hoop, second in ball, and second in ribbon.
Sailing
Flora Oskam-Stevens (Year 9) represented New Zealand at the European Optimist Championships in Turkey in May. Competing against 115 U-16 sailors, she started with a fourth-place finish and maintained consistent top 20 results throughout the competition. In the Gold Fleet finals, Flora won race 8, reportedly the first time a New Zealand sailor has achieved this. She finished 13th overall, recording the second-best result ever for a New Zealand girl at the event.
Skiing
Anna Yuan (Year 10) represented New Zealand at the Whistler Cup in Canada in April, competing in super G, giant slalom, slalom, and parallel. She placed 25th in super G, 30th in giant slalom, and 27th in parallel in the U-16 category.
Swimming
Xanthe Miller (Year 13) competed in the 2025 Tri Series in Ballarat, Victoria in July. She was part of the New Zealand Black team that finished second overall, just 100 points behind Australia, New Zealand’s closest result in the series.
Triathlon
Indie Williams (Year 11) won both the women’s 16–19 and the overall women’s races at the Napier Sprint Triathlon, securing her place at the 2025 World Triathlon Championship Finals in Australia in October. She was also named in the Triathlon New Zealand Development Squad, a group of eight athletes under 20 and now looks ahead to the World Age Group Championships in Wollongong, Australia and the Oceania Championships, in Napier in early 2026.
Ultimate frisbee
Petra Craddock (Year 11) was named in the New Zealand U-20 Ultimate Frisbee training squad for the 2025/26 campaign. She will attend the national selection and training camp in January 2026 with the goal of being named in the official NZ U-20 Ultimate team to compete at the 2026 World Junior Ultimate Championships in Spain.
Water polo
Dio water polo players continue to gain selection for New Zealand teams across all age groups, reflecting the school’s strong tradition in the sport.
Indiana Coe (Year 10), Juliette Laury (Year 10), Claudia Sundstrum (Year 10), and Henrietta Yarrell-Stevenson (Year 10) were named in the New Zealand U-15 Women’s Team, with Maritsa Radich (Year 11) selected as a non-travelling reserve.
Grainne Aitken (Year 11), Charlotte Manks (Year 11), Chloe Sandor (Year 11), and Olivia Willis (Year 11) earned places in the New Zealand U-17 Women’s Team. Both teams competed at the Australian National State Championships in Canberra in September, coached by Dio staff member Gabby Oloapu and alumna Hannah Ngare (2017).
At senior level, Lucy Gilleece (Year 13) represented New Zealand in the U-20 Women’s Team at the World Aquatics Championships in Salvador, Brazil, where the team placed 11th overall.
Alongside these student achievements, Director of Sport Angie Winstanley-Smith played a leading role on the international stage as head coach of the New Zealand White Caps at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July, guiding the team to a 10th-place finish.
World duathlon
Chloe Ulmer (Year 10) has been selected to represent New Zealand in duathlon at the World Triathlon Multisport Championships next year. Chloe achieved this selection by winning gold in the U-19 Sprint Duathlon Championships this year.
Water skiing
Ruby Presnall (Year 9) represented New Zealand at the U-18 Trans-Tasman Challenge at Lake Maraetai, Mangakino, in March. She won the U-14 division in her first international event and also won all sub-junior races that season, placing second in a speed-restricted open class, reaching 105km/h in races lasting up to 25 minutes.
Celebrating success
Across ice, water, tracks and fields, Dio students have shown determination and resilience. Their achievements reflect the support of coaches, families and the wider school community.
Director of Sport Angie Winstanley-Smith is proud of how Dio athletes have represented both the school and New Zealand.
“Reaching international representation takes discipline and resilience,” she says. “Our students carry themselves with pride, representing their sport, their country and their school community. We celebrate all they have achieved and the example they provide to others.”
As 2025 ends, we celebrate these accomplishments and look forward to the opportunities ahead in 2026.
