Elite News Bulletin -- 02-14-05

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This News Bulletin is emailed to swimmers and parents each Monday by Bill Deatly. If you aren't receiving a copy, please contact to make sure he has your current email address on his list.

HELP NEEDED AT 9-10 SILVER/BRONZE CHAMPSHIPS

On the weekend of February 26-27, Elite will be co-hosting (with Sea Dragons) the 9-10 Silver/Bronze “South” Championship Meet at Newark Academy. The meet is expected to have 400-500 participants each day. Elite is looking for parents or swimmers whom would like to help this massive undertaking.

Originally Elite had confined its request for help to parents of participating swimmers (approximately 50 Elite swimmers are entered into the meet). However, between school vacations and other outside commitments, the “pool” of volunteers is less than what is needed to pull off running a competent and efficient meet.

Parents and swimmers (community service time!!) whom time during the weekend (even a two-hour stint) and would be willing to help, please contact Brandy at 908-273-6542 or by email at eliteswimclubnj@comcast.net.

SENIOR/JUNIOR STATES LAST TUNE-UP FOR OLDER SWIMMERS

Sixty-Seven “older” Elite swimmers will compete in 293 events in the New Jersey Senior/Junior State Championships held Friday, February 18 thru Saturday, February 20 at Seton Hall University.

The last tune-up meet before the “End of the Season Championships,” the Sr/Jr Meet is a true championship meet with swimmers competing in “preliminaries” in the morning & early afternoon and returning in the evening to compete in “finals.” The top 16 Seniors (defined as 14 & Older for Girls and 15 & Older for Boys) and the top 8 Juniors (defined as 13 & Under for Girls and 14 & Under for Boys) will compete in the finals for medals and for team points.

All swimmers should plan to wear their black team sweatshirt all weekend long as the team uniform. Non-Elite clothing is unacceptable on the pool deck during the meet.

SICK? COULD BE YOUR LACK OF “AT HOME” SWIMMING DETAILS!!!

Are you sick? Got the flu, strep or a bad head cold? Your sickness is probably caused by your own lack of swimming details!!!

Since we are heading towards our championship season (late February/March), this is the most crucial segment of your training season. Each swimmer needs to practice their “at home” swimming details: drinking lots of fluids, eating properly and often, getting enough sleep and dressing properly for winter.

There are literally dozens of swimmers that ignore these vital “at home” swimming details, and most of these swimmers end up missing significant training and/or actually missing their meets because they do not live their “at home” swimming details. These swimmers literally shorten their training seasons due to their sickness!!!

One new swimmer phenonem that is just plain crazy is the “sandal/no sock look” in zero degree weather. Swimmers who dress like this are literally begging to get sick. One Elite swimmer actually got frostbite last week due to not dressing properly on the way home from swimming on a particularly cold night. Ever tried swimming with frostbite?

Be a winner: do your swimming details at home and at school, in addition to at the pool!!!

TOP 10 TIMES NOW POSTED ON WEBSITE

Thru an excellent parental suggestion, the Top 10 Times list is now posted on Elite’s website. Thru last weekend’s Open Distance Meet, 52 Elite have added 154 new top 10 times (better than 20% of the Elite swim team!!).

The computer allows to Elite to easily keep track of the top 10 fastest times in each event ever achieved by club members within “Elite” competitions. This “Top 10” list has been updated and a copy of the list is located in the back of the mailbox located at Newark Academy.

The following swimmers have already added one or more times this season to Elite’s fastest times ever: Lauren Andriesen, Jeffrey Ayres, Danielle Basile, Courtney Brosnan, Jerry Chiu, Corey Deatly, Christian DeFluri, Carolyn DeMeo, Jonathan Denby, Shelby Dixon, Sarah Donatelli, Brianna Drapeau, Priya Duvvuri, Venkatesh Duvvuri, Mickey Ennis, Kevin Estok, Frank Farinella, Kaitlin Farinella, Breana Fitzpatrick, Julianne Furdyna, Duncan Hall, Ben Inglese, Zackie Katz, Katie Kilcullen, Aaron Levin, Michael Li, Rachel Lieberberg, Andrea Luallen-Egg, Danielle Martinez, Collen Mason, Annie McCullough, Shayla McDonnell, Austin Meszaros, Meghan Montagna, Alix Ober, Alyssa Pepper, Michael Pepper, Brittany Ross, Nicki Ross, Jeffrey Ruhle, Henry Scott, Lindsay Scott, Ned Scott, Veronica Smith, Lindsay Stearns, Kara Stevens, Lily Thompson, Nick Trojanowski, Lydia Vollavanh, Devan Zambito.

Dozens more of Elite swimmers are within reach of obtaining a top 10 time this season!!! Check out the website!!!!

HOW THE END OF THE SEASON “WORKS”

With the end of the Winter 2004-05 Season rapidly approaching its conclusion, the following is an explanation of how the “End of the Season” concludes at Elite.

Each swimmer will be entered into at least 1 “End of the Season Championship Meet.” If a swimmer qualifies for 2 (or 3) different levels of championsip meets based upon their times, the swimmer will be entered into all the championship meets they qualify for. These meets, as described below, are: Mini-Championships, 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championships, the Bronze Championship, the Silver Championship & Junior Olympics.

For all swimmers ages 8 & under, the final meet of the season is the Mini-Championships held Saturday, February 26, to be held at Seton Hall University. At the conclusion of this meet, all swimmers ages 8 & Under are finished (including practice) for the season. All Marlin practices will conclude at this time (any 11 year old Marlin Teals and Marlin Blacks will practice with the Wave Teals thru the Bronze Championships.

For all swimmers ages 9 & 10, the final meet of the season is the 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championships, held Saturday, February 26 & Sunday, February 27 to hosted by Elite and held at Newark Academy. At the conclusion of this meet, all swimmers ages 9 & 10 are finished (including practice) for the season. The only exceptions are those swimmers who have qualified for Junior Olympics held Friday, March 18 thru Sunday, March 20. Those 11 year olds in the Marlin Teals and Marlin Blacks participating in Bronze Championships will practice with the Wavebuster Teals for one week commencing Monday, February 28.

All swimmers 11 & older will participate in one or more of the following meets: the Bronze Chamionships Saturday, March 5 & Saturday, March 6, Silver Championships Saturday, March 12 & Sunday, March 13 or the Junior Olympics, held Friday, March 18 thru Sunday, March 20.

When a swimmer has concluded their competitions, their practice season has concluded. Practices held in March are only for those swimmers who have upcoming Championship Meets.

CAN YOU PARTY??? “79” ACCEPT INVITATION SO FAR

Athletes have worked hard. Parents have driven all over the state. Both have proved they are committed to Elite and swimming. But can Elite Party????

Seventy-nine Elite members have already accepted their invitations and have sent back their invitations for the Sunday afternoon, April 3rd from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm at the Marriott Hotel in Whippany 10th annual “End of the Season” Banquet!!!

Every Elite swimmer, big and small, is invited to this annual party ritual. Highlights of this year’s dinner will include: attendence awards, participation awards, a slide show and dancing (music spun by a professional DJ!!!).

The reservation & information form was mailed late last week. It is also posted on the website. The reservation must be filled out, and returned complete with payment to Bill by Tuesday, March 1. Parents are requested to attend with their children.

Let’s rock the Marriott Hotel (like we rock at our meets!!!)!!!

SPRING SESSION INFO MAILED LATE LAST WEEK

Elite will hold a spring session from Monday, April 3 thru Friday, June 10. The practice schedule will be identical to the 2004 Fall practice schedule (4:30 pm start time). Information regarding the Spring 2005 session was mailed late last week.

As previously noted, most swimmers were invited to train within their existing training groups (this is especially true in the higher training groups). A small percentage of swimmers were “invited” to train in the next higher training group. Attendence, where and how well a swimmer trains within their current training group and each swimmer’s times were the criteria that was considered in inviting a swimmer to “move-up.”

The Spring Session will initially focus on stroke technique and form. As the session moves towards conclusion, the coaches will shift to conditioning to help put each swimmer in the best postion for a successful summer season with their summer club team.

Elite will be holding “tryouts” for swimmers not currently members of Elite but whom would like to become members. Tryouts will be held at Newark Academy starting at 4:30 pm on the following days:

1) 10 & Unders: Tuesday, March 22, 2005

2) 11 & Older: Wednesday, March 23, 2005

3) Make-ups-all ages: Thursday, March 24, 2005

SUMMER: THINK SWIM CAMPS

When planning the upcoming summer, please consider sending your Elite swimmer to one of the numerous swim camps available within driving distance.

Each summer, numerous Elite swimmers spend a rewarding week (or two) at a summer swim camp. The benefits of such a camp are: 1) individual attention by reknown swim coaches 2) an increased knowledge of the sport of swimming and 3) personal growth that occurs as a result of “being on one’s own.”

The formula that seems to work best is finding an Elite friend to spend the week with at the swim camp.

If you are considering sending your swimmer to a swim camp, now is the time to do the research and make decisions (many of these camps are sold out by mid-Spring). In the back of the mailbox, there are a list of swim camps which Elite swimmers have attended in the past and where to find more information about each camp. In addition, Bill can email this list to you at your request.

This summer: think Swim Camps!!

NJ TIME STANDARDS POSTED ON ELITE’S WEBSITE

Time Standards for the End of the Season Championship Meets have been adopted by New Jersey Swimming, are posted on Elite’s website (under time standards) and are posted on the wall at Newark Academy. These standards are final for the 2004-05 season.

PARENTS ORGANIZATION UPDATE

FUNDRAISER COMMITTEE: Rita Furdyna (rfurdyna@watsonpharm.com) and Peter Wolfson (pjwolfson@pbnlaw.com) have agreed to be co-chairs of the Fundraiser Committee.

Initial ideas focused on including fundraising efforts during the Elite End of the Season Banquet scheduled for April 3. Suggestions included gift baskets, program, 50-50’s and raffles.

Rita and Peter would welcome outsided ideas for the above and/or additional fundraisers. Please contact Rita or Peter at the above email addresses with your ideas and/or your willingness to volunteer.

TIMERS COMMITTEE: The timing committee and coordination of timing assignments is evolving. All Parents attending meets are requested to:

1) volunteer to time and/or 2) volunteer to organize the timing at each session at the meets. More information will be provided shortly.

MEET ENTRIES ON THE WEBSITE

All meet entry information and session information for swim meets is posted on Elite’s website under Meets (please click on both the entry information and session information to get all the information you need).

EACH SWIMMER should check EACH swim meet to see if they are entered into it. Session information and start times are listed on the “Session Info” list accompanying each entry list on the website.

The following meet entries and directions/session times are posted on Elite’s website (eliteswimclub.org):

1) Senior-Junior State Championship- Friday, February 18 to February 20

2) Mini-Championships (End of Season Championship Meet for swimmers ages 8 & Under- Saturday, Feb 26- Seton Hall University

3) 9-10 Silver-Bronze South Championships-Saturday, Feb 26 & Sundany, Feb 27

With regards to any Elite meets, all athletes have the following obligation if they are unable to attend the meet or any session of the meet:

YOU ARE TO EMAIL (ELITESWIMCLUBNJ@COMCAST.NET), PHONE (908-273-6542) OR LEAVE A WRITTEN MESSAGE IN BILL’S MAILBOX

MEET RESULTS NOW POSTED ON THE WEBSITE

In addition to being posted at Newark Academy, results from each meet are now posted on Elite’s website. Check the “Meet Results” category in the table of contents and then click on the results of the meet you wish to review.

PRACTICE CHANGES IN MID/LATE FEB

As the high school swim meet season winds down, there will be less disruption of Elite’s practice schedule.

1) Thursday, February 17: In preparation of the Senior/Junior State Championship Meet, the Seniors and Senior Preps will swim a combined workout at Newark Academy from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

2) Saturday February 19 & Sunday, February 20: Due to the Sr/Jr State Championship Meet, there will not be a Senior or Senior Prep practice on either of these days.

3) Monday, February 21: Presidents-Newark Academy is closed. Wave Teals will practice from 3 pm to 4:15 pm at Morristown-Beard. Wave Golds will practice from 3:45 pm to 5:00 pm at Morristown-Beard. Seniors and Senior Preps will have a combined practice from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Morristown-Beard.

4) Saturday, February 26: Due to Elite hosting the 9-10 Silver-Bronze South Championship Meet, there will be no Wave Teal practice (see Sun). The Wave Golds will practice from 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm at Morristown-Beard. Senior Preps will have practice from 8:00 am to 10:00 am.

5) Sunday, February 27: Due to Elite hosting the 9-10 Silver-Bronze South Championship Meet, there will be a Wave Teal practice at Morristown-Beard from 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm. There will be no Marlin Teal or Marlin Black practice (11 year old Marlin Blacks are to practice with Wave Teals).

PRACTICE SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

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MONDAY
2-14-2005

WAVE TEAL-AT NA
5:15 PM - 6:30 PM

WAVE GOLD-AT NA
D: 5:15 PM - 5:55 PM
P: 6:00 PM - 7:15 PM

SENIOR PREPS-AT MB
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

SENIORS-AT NA
D: 5:35 PM - 6:25 PM
P: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

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TUESDAY
2-15-05

MARLIN TEAL-AT NA
5:15 PM - 6:00 PM

MARLIN BLACK-AT NA
5:15 PM - 6:00 PM

WAVE BLACK-AT NA
6:00 PM - 7:15 PM

SENIORS PREPS AT NA
D: 6:15 PM - 6:55 PM
P: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

SENIORS-AT MB
D: 6:30 PM - 7:00 PM
P: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

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WEDNESDAY
2-16-05

WAVE BLACK-AT NA
5:15 PM - 6:30 PM

WAVE GOLD-AT NA
6:15 PM - 7:30 PM

SENIOR PREPS-AT MB
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

SENIORS-AT NA
D: 5:45 PM - 6:40 PM
P: 6:45 PM - 8:30 PM

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THURSDAY
2-17-05

WAVE TEAL-AT NA
5:15 PM - 6:30 PM

WAVE GOLD-AT NA
D: 5:15 PM - 5:55 PM
P: 6:00 PM - 7:15 PM

COMBINED
SENIORS-AT NA
SENIORS PREPS-AT NA
D:  6:00 PM -  6:40 PM
P:  6:45 PM -  8:00 PM
PRE-SR/JR MEET PREP
    8:00:00 PM -  8:30 PM

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FRIDAY
2-18-05

SR/JR STATE
WU: 4:15 PM
500 FR/400 IM

MARLIN TEAL-AT NA
5:15 PM - 6:00 PM

MARLIN BLACK-AT NA
5:15 PM - 6:00 PM

WAVE BLACK-AT NA
6:00 PM - 7:15 PM

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SATURDAY
2-19-05

SR/JR STATE
SENIOR WU: 7:00 PM
JUNIOR WU: TBA

WAVE TEAL-AT NA
11:00 PM - 12:15 PM

WAVE GOLD-AT NA
P: 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
D: 11:15 PM - 11:45 PM

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SUNDAY
2-20-05

SR/JR STATE
SENIOR WU: 7:00 PM
JUNIOR WU: TBA

MARLIN TEALS-AT MB
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
MARLIN BLACKS-AT MB
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
WAVE BLACKS-AT MB
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
WAVE GOLDS-AT MB
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM