ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               01-11-10        

           

 

SWIMMERS REBOUND FROM TOUGH 1ST DAY, FINISH WITH FLURRY;

KATZ (4), SEBASTIAN, STRAND (3) TOUCH FIRST;

A. WEINBROM ADDS SECTIONAL CUT IN 50 FREE;

C. BALBO, COYNE, FRIDAY, GALEA, J. GORHAM (2), HALL, S. HARRIS, HUANG, KATZ, KESELMAN, KOVACS, LARAIA, MANGO (3), MELCHIOR, NG, SEBASTIAN, L. STEARNS, SUN, A. WEINBROM, XIA, C. XU, GR. XU & YU ADD 26 JO QUALIFYING TIMES;

 

Resiliency, perseverance, tenacity. Part of the Elite swimming experience is to help swimmers deal positively with failure; to come back harder, stronger, tougher. This past weekend, the Elite swimmers did just that.

 

Uncharacteristically, as a team Elite had a very off day on Saturday at the Winterfest Invitational held at Rutgers University (though Saturday did see some great individual Elite performances). Maybe it was the cold nature of the pool area (again, uncharacteristic-Rutgers is usually very warm!), maybe it is the sickness/flu/sinus infections that seem to be about the team, maybe it was that many swimmers were slated for secondary events after performing magnificently at Holiday Classic last month, maybe Elite was just due for an off-day. Regardless of the reason, what the team did was fight, hang tough and return on Sunday for a much more characteristic team wide performance. As individuals and as a team, we were resilient!

 

12 year old Zach Katz and 17 year old Michael Strand led Elite with 7 individual wins between them. Katz, who ages up later this month, won 4 individual events (100 breast-1.08.43, 50 fly-27.37, 50 breast-29.76 and 200 breast-2.33.25). In Zach’s other two events, he finished 2nd in the 100 back (1.03.07) which was his 7th JO qualifying time for his new age group-13 & 14 and 3rd in the 100 free (55.68).

 

Strand, who recently discovered he had (and trained thru) mono in December, swam a reduced event schedule yet still managed an 11 second drop in winning the 1000 free (10.03.67-fastest time in Elite history), a 3 second drop in the 200 fly (1.55.84) and a .2 second drop in the 400 IM (4.12.41). In Michael’s only other race, the 200 back, he placed 2nd by just .03 with a 1.57.04 time.

 

17 year old Adam Weinbrom, who has had a mercurial development in the last two years, qualified for 2nd Sectional qualifying time this winter with his 4th place 22.27 50 yard free swim. Adam, despite being sick this past week, also muster enough energy to place 3rd in the 200 free (1.50.87), 5th in the 500 free (5.08.67-a 9 second drop), 6th place twice in both the 100 back (56.10) and the 100 free (50.44) and 7th in the 200 back (2.03.82).

 

13 year old Ryan Sebastian, who continues to impress in both his races and in his workout practice ethic, beat two close competitors to the wall to win the 200 butterfly with a 2.08.11 time (4.4 second drop). Ryan had earlier in the day dropped 1.5 seconds in the 400 IM (4.31.00) to place 4th. Ryan finished his meet with a 95 (yes, 95) second drop in the 1650 free (17.48.18-a JO cut) from last year!!!

 

 15 year old Alex Mango also continues to impress; Alex finished 2nd in the 1650 free with a JO qualifying time of 17.07.71. Alex’s 1650 race produced the rare swimming situation where one qualifies for two JO cuts; Alex was under the JO qualifying time at the 1000 free (which event he has not yet swum for Elite) giving him the 2 for 1. Prior to this race, Alex had also dropped 21 seconds from his previous best in the 400 IM (4.29.23) to place 8th with another JO cut. Alex also placed 6th in the 100 fly (56.28).

 

10 year olds Emily Gorham, Karen Iizuka and Gian Soriano all placed 2nd in events: Gorham was 2nd in the 200 free (2.28.45) along with placing 4th twice (50 free-28.95 & 100 fly-1.21.34), 5th in the 100 free (1.04.71) and 6th in the 200 IM (2.46.95). Unfortuately for Emily, she ages up in February. Iizkua was 2nd in the 100 breast, dropping .65 with a 1.23.46 effort. Soriano was 2nd in the 50 fly (33.05).

 

10 year old Michael Tortorella snagged 3rd in the 100 breast with his 1.24.01 effort.

 

17 year old Venka Duvvuri inched closer to a Sectional qualifying time in the 200 butterfly with his personal best 2.02.40 & 4th place finish. Venka is just 1 second from qualifying individually at Sectionals in this event. Venka also placed 5th in the 100 fly (55.93).

 

11 year old Kaitlin Stearns dropped 2 seconds in the 200 free (2.08.10) to place 4th overall. 15 year old Michael Li stroked to a 4th place finish in the 100 breast (1.05.12) after placing 8th in the 200 breast (2.23.56).

 

14 year old Krishna Duvvuri grabbed 5th place in the 100 fly (1.01.07). Krishna also placed 7th with his 1.09.25 performance. Sister Priya Duvvuri also placed 5th in the 200 fly (2.14.96-also inching closer to a sectional qualifying time-just 1.5 seconds). Priya placed 8th in her 100 back swim (1.03.16).

 

11 year old Andrea Galea also nabbed a 5th place with her 35.66 50 breast swim. Andrea was 6th in the 200 free with her 3.5 second drop (2.08.85) and her 8th place finish in the 100 breast (1.17.73) was her 16th JO qualifying time as a 12 & Under!

 

12 year old Avinash Duvvuri placed 6th in the 50 back (31.54) and 8th in the 50 breast (36.05).

 

12 year old Caroline Nash produced a memorable back to back performance; Caroline competed in the 50 fly just minutes before performing the 200 butterfly in which she placed 6th! 13 year old Lindsay Stearns finished 6th in the 200 IM (2.21.14) though her most impressive swim was her 1000 free (11.12.34), in which she placed 9th after dropping 52 seconds and qualifying for JOs!

 

13 year old Jess Gorham had a dynamite weekend, earning JO cuts in placing 7th in the 500 free (5.35.04-a 13 second drop) and 8th in the 50 free (26.15). 14 year old Matthew Ahlmeyer also placed 7th & 8th (in the 100 fly-1.01.13 and the 200 fly-2.16.21 respectively).

 

17 year old Duncan Hall snuck under the JO qualifying time by .05 with his 7th place finish in the 50 free (23.04).

 

13 year old Andrea Shepard matched Caroline Nash’s tenacity with a 8th place 200 fly finish (2.28.79-missing the JO cut by .2) moments after finishing the 100 butterfly race in a personal best of 1.09.21.

 

12 year old Isabel LaRaia’s last swim of the meet earned her 8th place and a trip to JO’s in the 100 IM (1.10.13).

 

13 year old Kara Miller-Radest snatched a 8th finish with her 100 fly (1.03.52) performance.

 

12 year old Jared Kovacs tripled his JO schedule this March, adding two new JO cuts. Jared collected the 100 fly cut with his 1.12.86 swim and followed up with the 200 breast cut with his 2.55.79 swim. All 6 of Jared’s swims were best times.

 

The 10 year old girls had a JO feeding frenzy: 10 year old Rachel Keselman earned her 1st career Junior Olympic qualifying with her 1.33.21 performance in the 100 breast (Rachel had 6 best times this weekend) while 9 year old Brittany Sun also earned her 1st career JO cut, this one in the 50 fly (35.29). 10 year old Katherine Friday attained her 2nd JO swim with her 1.24.55 performance in the 100 butterfly. 10 year old Vivian Xia earned her 2nd JO cut with her 1.32.88 100 breast swim and 9 year old Grace Xu added her 2nd JO cut to her resume with her 1.11.06 time in the 100 free. All 6 of Grace’s swims were best times!

 

14 year old Richard Yu scored a JO cut in the 200 breast (2.36.31) while 12 year old Karl Melchior brought home his 8th JO qualifying time with his 1.12.42 swim in the 100 butterfly. All 6 of Karl’s swims were best times.

 

Two 11 year old boys went gold; Chris Balbo posted his 13th JO qualifying time with his 1.01.86 100 free performance while Jimmy Coyne earned his 1st JO cut this year with his 2.57.83 time in the 200 breast.

 

12 year old Scott Harris obtained his 4th JO swim in March with his 6.08.25 time in the 500 free (7 second drop). 10 year old Evan Ng bagged his 2nd JO cut, this one in the 200 free (2.40.36). 10 year old Andrew Huang brought home his 5th JO time this season with his 200 free time of 2.39.87).

 

Other memorable performances were:

 

1)      16 year Sam Duren’s 6 for 6 best performance-including a 13 second drop in the 400 IM

2)      11 year old Christina Pick’s 6 for 6 performance-including a 10 second drop in the 200 breast

3)      12 year old Gabrielle Pick’s 6 for 6 performance-including a 12 second drop in the 200 free

4)      15 year old Jessica Chu’s 5 best performance in 5 events

5)      10 year old Abbie Bigham’s 5 for 6 best times

6)      11 year old Alyssa Hartigan’s 5 for 6 best times

7)      13 year old Matthew Hong’s 5 for 6 best times

8)      9 year old Jennifer Huo’s 5 for 6 best times

9)       

 

Full results are posted on the team website.

 

Swimmers who participated (# in parathesis is number of best Elite SCY best times):  Matt Ahlmeyer (5), Chelsea Allocco, Jenni Allocco, Lindsay Anderson, Chris Balbo (5), Megan Balbo, Lindsay Behar (2), Mark Berns, Abbie Bigham (5), Emily Buckman (1), John Burns (1), Richie Carchia, Brannon Cho (1), Daniel Chu (2), Jessica Chu (5), Morgan Conley (3), Jimmy Coyne (3), Matthew Critchley (4), Elizabeth D’Altrui (2), Victoria D’Altrui, Tad Deatly (2), Kelly Delaney (2), Anthony Don (3), Jeffrey Dong (3), Alli Dorneo (1), Amy Duren (1), Corey Duren (1), Sam Duren (6), Avinash Duvvuri (1), Krishna Duvvuri (6), Priya Duvvuri (4), Venka Duvvuri (3), Lindsay Ellerthorpe, Juliet Felsen, Andrea Ferrell (2), Katherine Friday (5), Andrea Galea (5), Clio Galea (2), Ariel Gelman (2), Lindsay Giostra (3), Emily Gorham (5), Jess Gorham (5), Kevin Greener (2), Duncan Hall (2), Emma Harris, Scott Harris (5), Alyssa Hartigan (5), Matthew Hong (5), Patrick Hong (1), Rachel Hong (2), Andrew Huang (5), Jennifer Huo (5), Alicia Iizuka (3), Erica Iizuka, Karen Iizuka (5), Monica Iizuka (1), Ria Iizuka, Katie Iovel (3), Zach Katz (2), Rachel Keselman (6), Audrey Kim (2), Jared Kovacs (6), Emmie Lai (1), Clark LaRaia (3), Isabel LaRaia (5), Michael Li, Jessie Lowe (1), Greg Macchia (1), Alex Mango (3), Danielle Martinez (1), Cody Matheson (3), Katie McGrath (3), Karl Melchior (6), Brendan Miller-Radest, Kara Miller-Radest (2), Ali Morreale (1), Isabella Morreale (1), Charlotte Morrissey (3), Sandeepan Mukherjee, Dan Muro, Julia Muro, Caroline Nash (2), Alexandra N’Diaye, Maggie Nelson (4), Evan Ng (1), Michael Nitting (4), Dara O’Gorman (3), Danielle Peterson, Christina Pick (6), Gabrielle Pick (6), Michelle Pick (2), Camille Relota (3), Taylor Saverse,  Ryan Sebastian (5), Andrea Shepard (3), Katy Shepard (3), Gian Soriano (3), Kaitlin Stearns (1), Lindsay Stearns (4), Will Stearns, Michael Strand (3), Brittany Sun (3), Erica Takahashi (1), Abir Thakur (1), Michael Tortorella (3), Rachael Tortorella (3), Amy Tsay (4), Caroline Watt (3), Asam Weinbrom (2), Sarah Weinbrom, Ryan Wyer, Vivian Xia (4), Claire Xu (1), Gloria Xu (1), Grace Xu (6), Remenna Xu (1), Richard Yu (3) & Carolyn Zhu.

 

CO-HOSTING PRINCETON INVITATIONAL MEANS GUARANTEED SWIMS PROVIDED BY ELITE’S (PARENTS PLEASE NOTE) TIMING ASSIGNMENTS GALORE!!

 

             As each Elite swimmer and parent knows, entering NJ/USA Sanctioned swim meets in New Jersey is a challenge. There are over 8000 swimmers registered in New Jersey and a single 8 lane pool can accommodate approximately 350 swimmers for 3 events in 4 hours.

 

            Because Elite is very organized, Elite swimmers almost always get entered into the meets the team wants to compete in. Elite rarely gets “shut out” of meets-though the possibility is very, very real that this will happen in the future-despite being organized. To reduce the possibility of being shut out of two very important meets, Elite has agreed to “co-host” two new meets this year:

 

1)                          the Princeton Invitational. This meet is held January 16th & 17th. This is a short course meet held in a fantastic facility (often over shadowed by an even more fantastic facility-Rutgers) late in training cycle. Competing in this meet means swimmers get one last opportunity to improve their times in a top notch facility prior to championship season in early March. Please note that most of February is spent preparing swimmers training wise on their championship season-not competing.

2)                          The Tiger Challenge. This meet is held May 15th and May 16th. This meet is a long course meet held very early in the summer long course training cycle. Competing in this meet allows swimmers to get updated lcm times for the summer competition season

 

By agreeing to “co-host” this meet, Elite offered to provide timers and a meet referee. This “co-hosting” then “locks” Elite into the meet

(thus preventing the team from being shut out of these two timely meets). This guarantees Elite to participate as a result of the Elite parents willingness to “work the meet.”

 

            Please note this message from the timing coordinators Carolyn Balbo, Jennifer Campbell Tortorella and Lisa Allocco:

 

On January 16th and 17th Elite is co-hosting the Tiger Challenge Meet.   Elite’s responsibilities include a large timing assignment as one of the host clubs.  We will need all parents of swimmers entered in this meet to help fulfill Elite’s timing assignment.   Please expect to time one or more shifts over the weekend.  If your child is entered in this meet but will not be swimming one or both days please let Carolyn, Jennifer or Lisa know immediately.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation.  Please contact Carolyn, Jennifer or Lisa with any questions or concerns. 

Carolyn Balbo – cbalbo@comcast.net , Jennifer Tortorella -  campbel5@optonline.net , Lisa Allocco – lvallocco@verizon.net

 

RUTGERS COLLEGE CONFERENCE CARNIVAL: ELITE RELAYS ACCEPTED-ONE RELAY IN EACH AGE GROUP & GENDER ACCEPTED-RELAYS TO BE POSTED THIS WEEK, OLYMPIAN ERIC SHANTEAU CLINIC FOR ALL; LIVE BROADCAST ON WEB!!!

 

Year 2 of Rutgers University Women’s Varsity Swim Team’s College Conference Carnival will see Olympian Eric Shanteau and Olympian Josh Davis in a 3 hour clinic open to all swimmers in New Jersey.

 

Building on the swimming phenomena generated from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rutgers University Women’s Team will again host a “College Conference Carnival” at Rutgers University on Friday, January 22 & Saturday, January 23, 2010. Committed to competing at the collegiate level are Rutgers, the University of Minnesota, the University of Maryland-Baltimore, the University of Richmond, the University of Central Connecticut and Rider University. All of these teams either won or placed 2nd in their respective conferences.

 

            As part of the festivities, Rutgers will coordinate 4 events that will (hopefully) directly impact Elite Swimming: in the middle of the meet: Rutgers has scheduled relay races for the top 8 teams in New Jersey (including southern NJ which is part of the Mid-Atlantic LSC) in both the 9-10 and 11-12 Age Groups. Each of the 4 Elite has submitted 4 relays (one each for girls and boys in both the 10 & Under and 11-12 Age Groups). Have been accepted to compete-these relays with alternates will be posted on the team website in the next day or two!!  

 

            As currently scheduled, the 11-12 Boys and Girls Relays will participate at approximately 7 pm Friday night and the 9-10’s will participate at approximately 7:45 pm on Saturday night.

 

            In addition to the competition at both the College and Age Group level, Rutgers will be hosting Olympian’s Eric Shanteau and Josh Davis (who visited Elite two years ago with Kate Zieglar) on Saturday from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Information on how to reserve your tickets to this clinic will be forthcoming.

 

            Rutgers will also be planning other entertain activities at the meet such as Synchro Diving & Big Man Cannonball Contests, Masters World Record 3-Meter Diving Contest and Clown Diving. Tickets for the event are now being offered at: http://ev12.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetGroupList?groupCode=RF&linkID=rutgers&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=.

 

            Below is the most recent communiqué from Rutgers about the event:

 

We are very excited about the second Swimming World Magazine College Conference Carnival that opens two weeks from Friday night, the 22nd and completes on the 23rd. This ‘made for TV’ package was met with huge positive feedback last year. The atmosphere of live (internet) TV with on deck interviews, Olympians roaming the stands and pool deck, fast college swimming with a mix of age-group relays with diving, clown diving does a great job of showcasing aquatics and swimming in general to a large audience. Swimming World will make this the featured event over two nights of January 22-23rd on www.swiminfo.com. This is a very special opportunity to show people in the university setting that swimming, diving and aquatics can be an EVENT!

 

Last year 2500 people watched the live broadcast, with another 1000 in the stands over two nights. This year we are adding a ‘search and rescue’ demonstration by the Army on Friday night (just 5 minutes), plus a clinic with Josh Davis and Eric Shanteau on Saturday afternoon leading up to the clinic. (Information attached. This is a big risk for Josh and Eric to do at the last minute, please consider promoting to appropriate swimmers.) All the teams with age-group relays are entered and planning to be back. Last year many of us were stunned by their performances, including the Lakeland Hills Y 9-10 girls 200 free relay that set at NJ LSC record of 1:56. Amazing.

 

            Elite parents of swimmer participating: if you are a NJ Swimming Official, please contact Jim O’Neil to officiate (these events only!). This will get you into the door for free and will help enable any record setting relay to be recognized as such!!!

 

….JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE NOT TO LOOK AT OUR PRACTICE SCHEDULE: HIGH SCHOOL MEETS TO DISRUPT PRACTICES:

 

            In December, January and thru the middle of February, high school & middle school swim teams conduct practice and meets at the two pools Elite uses. Incredibly, a total of 7 high school and middle school teams use either Newark Academy or Morristown-Beard School during this time in addition to Elite. What these means to us is that Elite’s practices will be disrupted as meets will encroach into Elite’s practice times.

 

            On days when there are no meets, Elite’s practices will be held at the identical time. However, on those days when a high school or middle school is using one of our pools for a meet, our practices might be shortened at the front end or on the back end. And meets get canceled and rescheduled. So, please continue to check the practice schedule for practice time changes on a daily basis!!

 

PARENTS RESPONSIBILITY AT 9-10S, 13 & OLDER CHAMPIONSHIPS:

 

            Parents are reminded that although we ran a spectacular Distance Derby meet in November at Newark Academy, Elite will be running two more meets this season: 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championships and 13 & Older Silver/Bronze Championships (co-hosted with Morris County Swim Club).

 

            With regards to the 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championships, all parents of swimmers 10 & younger (yes, including 8 & Under parents!) will be expected to work that weekend.

 

            With regards to the 13 & Older Silver/Bronze Championships, all parents of swimmers 13 & Older (with exceptions being parents of swimmers attending Sectionals in Boston, Massachusetts) l be expected to work that weekend.

 

WITH WINTER COMES WEATHER,

CHECK WEBSITE/EMAIL FOR PRACTICE CANCELLATIONS:

 

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.

 

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 in our heaviest training, swimmers are “broken down” or tired based upon the heavy swimming workload. To stay healthy, 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 several 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!!!

 

PROMOTION REQUIREMENTS:

ATTENDENCE, LEVEL OF TRAINING AND STROKE TECHNIQUE:

 

            As we are already passed the mid-point of our training season, swimmers and parents are reminded that swimmers EARN their promotions by accomplishing 3 criteria thru the season. Coaches will make their recommendations for promotions to Bill starting in mid January and the promotion letters will be mailed in early February. No swimmer will be considered for promotion unless they comply with the following 3 criteria (and swimmers are reminded that they control this process, not the coaches);

 

1)      great attendance as defined as follows:

a.       over 70% for Marlin Teals, Marlin Blacks, Wave Teals & Wave Blacks.

b.      over 80% for Wave Golds

c.       over 85% for Senior Preps

     

2)      Training within the top lanes in one’s training group. Each training group has 2 to 6 different levels of training within the training group. A swimmer must be training within the top 2 training levels to be considered.

 

3)  Great stroke technique. While swimmers are training in the top level of their training group, they need to hold their stroke technique. Each swimmer is aware of those things they need to work on.

 

            Each swimmer is encouraged to talk to their coach regarding their current status and things they need to do during the 2nd half of the season to earn a promotion.

 

PARENTS: PLEASE BE PROMPT IN PICKING UP SWIMMERS:

 

            Parents are requested to be prompt in picking up their swimmers at the end of practice. Recently, especially after the Wave Golds on weekdays and the Wave Teals on Saturday, swimmers have had to wait 30-45 minutes after practice for their ride.

 

            Bill has asked the coaches to remain at practice until the last child has been picked up (for the obvious safety reasons). Coaches are more than willing to do so occasionally. But Elite coaches have other full time jobs and several are attending school in addition to their primary jobs and coaching. It is unfair to ask the coaches to spend an additional 30-40 minutes waiting for parents to pick up their children virtually every night.

 

            Elite is prompt about ending practice on time. Please help out the coaches by being prompt to pick up your child.

 

CLOTHING ITEMS PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED THRU ESCPO NOW IN: CONTACT ALLISON NASH:

 

            The clothing items previously purchased thru ESCPO have arrived. Parents are encouraged to contact Allison Nash to arrange pick-up at Newark Academy.  Allison’s email address is ALLISONRNASH@MSN.COM.

           

WHEN IN DOUBT, CHECK THE WEBSITE:

 

            If you have questions about Elite, your first source of information is Elite’s website located at eliteswimclub.org.  When in doubt, first check the website!!!