ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 1-3-07

TRAINING TRIP TOUGHENS ELITE’S SENIORS:

Fourteen swimmers traveled cross-country last week for the opportunity to train 12 times within a six-day span on Elite’s 6th annual Winter training trip. Practicing at the outdoor pools on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, the swimmers were more than equal to the difficult task presented by the demanding workouts.

Elite swimmers survived 12 grueling practices in 6 days (including starting the trip with 3 two-hour practices within a space of 22 hours!!!). Elite trained both long course (50 meters) and short course (25 yards) on a daily basis and swum approximately 12,000 yards each day (over 6 miles) during four hours in the pool and 1 hour of drylands. This is approximately twice the normal daily workload for the swimmers. The training trip was a 1st for 7 of the 14 swimmers.

Out of the pool and despite the overcast skies at the beginning of the week, the swimmers managed to muster enough energy to spend four hours at the Tempe’s Fiesta Bowl New Year’s Eve Block Party (most of the girls never left the KISS-FM Dance Floor!!), attend the Insight Bowl (yes, we missed the incredible Texas Tech comeback as we left the game at halftime due to the overwhelming Minnesota score plus the 40 degree temp!), shop in downtown Tempe, and jump from ASU’s 10 meter diving tower.

Due to his swimming prowess and his desire to swim at a top Division I college, Chris Dart was given a recruiting tour of the incredible ASU athlete facility (weight room, trainer’s facility, student-athlete lounge) by ASU assistant coach Greg Winslow (head of recruiting).

Elite swimmers who survived Arizona were:

Danielle Basile Crissy Condus Kat Cupka Chris Dart Corey Deatly

Tad Deatly Julianne Furdyna Cassandra Farnow Ricky Martin Austin Meszaros

Sarah Peay Brittany Ross Michael Strand Kayla Wolonsky

The swimmers, Bill and Brandy would like to thank Rich Farnow, Laila Farnow and David Strand, who were the training group chaperones and who performed numerous behind the scene tasks throughout the week to make life easier for the swimmers.

MID TERM “EXAMS” APPROACHING:

Every Elite swimmer will participate in a mid-season championship style meet within the next two weeks, a task roughly equalivant to mid term exams.

Swimmers who have qualified for Winterfest (roughly Gold and Silver times) will compete this weekend at Rutgers University. Warm-up times are now posted on the website.

The remaining Elite swimmers will participate in Winter Classic, a new meet this season being held at Seton Hall University, held Saturday, Jan. 20 and Sunday, Jan. 21. Warm-up times for the afternoon sessions have not yet been provided.

The goal for swimmers at these meets is to achieve Gold and Silver cut times. Based upon the incredible attendance records of the 7 different training groups plus the energetic work ethic our swimmers are showing while at practice, the coaches expect tremendous performances at both these meets. However, swimmers and parents are to be reminded that qualifying times earned later in the season and/or at championship meets will enable swimmers to participate in the higher level meets.

Elite swimmers who have qualified for the prestigious Burgdorff Invitational, a mid-winter “long course” meet, will compete next weekend at Rutgers.

COACH MATT KEEPS UP WITH YOUNGSTERS, BREAKS STATE MASTERS RECORD:

Coach Matt King, a former Elite standout swimmer (see the top 10 All-time Times for 13 & Older) broke a New Jersey State Master’s Swimming Record last weekend in the 800 SCM free. King’s time was 9.32.51.

Matt, who is the head coach of the Marlin Teals and who assists in coaching at all levels at Elite, participated in the 2006 New England Short Course Meters Championships held at Boston University’ Fitness and Recreation Center December 15 thru Dec 17, hosted by the Great Bay Master’s Swimming Program.

Matt, who was captain of his college team at Rowan University, has been training with the Elite Seniors twice a week to keep in swimming shape. Interestingly, at the meet Matt ran into former Elite teammate Lauren Tharaud, who is swimming Master’s in the Boston area!!!

ELITE CONTRIBUTES TO NA’S PURCHASE OF AED’S;

Concerned with the safety and well fare of its swimmers, its competition and adults of these swimmers, Elite contributed $1,250 towards the purchase of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) at Newark Academy last month. The AED, which is portable, will be posted in the hallway between the pool and the new gym.

AED’s are used to jump start a person’s heart upon cardiac arrest. These machines now literally “talk” a rescuer thru the procedure. AED’s are credited with keeping thousands of people alive.

With daily practice and two large swim meets held at Newark Academy each year, Elite felt it was important to contribute to the safety of everyone involved with Elite Swimming. Newark Academy also bought several other portable AED’s to be placed strategically around the school.

Morristown-Beard School recently purchased an AED for their pool. It is now hung in the pool office.

TOP 10 ALL-TIME TIMES IS UPDATED:

The Top 10 All-Time Times list has been updated to include Holiday Classic and Christmas Invitational Times. The list is posted on team website under Top 10 Times.

There are many, many Elite swimmers who have cracked into Elite’s top 10 this year. Check it out!!!

ELITE HIRES FRIEND FOR TEMPORARY HELP:

In an effort to provide the best for its swimmers, Elite has hired Stephanie Dart to help coach in the Age Group program for the next several weeks.

Stephanie, who has coached during the summer at the Chatham Fish and Game Club, will be working one-on-one with swimmers to help with their breaststroke kicks, starts, turns and stroke technique. Given the large F & G contingent at Elite, Stephanie is already well-know at Elite.

Stephanie will help thru the middle of January, when she will return to the University of Tampa, where she is a freshman!

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 phenomena 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 2 years ago 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!!!

WEATHER AFFECTING PRACTICE? CHECK WEBSITE & EMAIL:

Weather will have an affect on practice schedules and meet starting times. When in doubt, check the Elite website and your email for information regarding time changes due to weather.

Be advised that both Newark Academy and Morristown Beard tend to close down at the forecast of bad weather. In addition, safety is extremely important. Thus, weather is likely to interrupt practice and even if it does not, parents should make decisions based upon their comfort level regarding travel to and from practice.

NINE (9) HIGH SCHOOL SWIM TEAMS TO AFFECT PRACTICE TIMES IN DEC, JAN & FEB; PLEASE CHECK SCHEDULE DAILY!!!!:

During the December, January and February, nine (9) high school swim teams will be using either Newark Academy or Morristown-Beard pools for practices and for meets. These additional teams will affect Elite’s practice schedule virtually every day.

Newark Academy Varsity (Boys & Girls), Newark Academy Middle School and Millburn High School (Boys and Girls) use the Newark Academy prior to and after Elite Swim Practices. On days where these teams have a meet, the Elite schedule will be reduced.

Morristown-Beard Varsity (Boys & Girls), Morristown Middle School and Villa Walsh use the Morristown-Beard School pool prior to Elite Swim Practices. On days where these teams have a meet, the Elite schedule will be reduced.

Wave Blacks are reminded that practice on Saturday’s will be held from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm at Morristown-Beard School.

LOST AND FOUND:

There is a Lost and Found at Newark Academy which is already overflowing with t-shirts, sweatshirts, goggles, fins, etc. If you have lost something, check out the lost and found. AND put your name on everything you own so it can get back to you!!!