ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               01-12-09

 

POOL SIZE CHANGES, RESULTS REMAIN SPECTACULAR:

KAITLIN STEARNS WINS TWICE, BALBO, KOLOGY ALSO TOUCH FIRST:

MARTIN “FINALS”: A. DUREN, KATZ & KOLOGY SECURE SUMMER LCM ZONE TIMES:

 

            You can lengthen the pool, but the results for the Elite Swimmers remain constant: absolutely fabulous!!!

 

            Competing in the long course venue (50 meters verses the typical winter venue of 25 yards) this past weekend at the 18th Annual CeraVe Invitational (formerly “Burgdorff”), the Elite swimmers continued to post very impressive results. In being the only long course meets held during the winter months, this meet attracts a number of prestigious teams from the Northeast (Attleboro Mass Bluefish, Asphalt Green-NYC, Jersey Wahoos-south Jersey, Long Island Aquatic Club, Westchester Marlins, Germantown Academy-Pa) along with the usual strong New Jersey contingent. The results are particularly impressive as long course is considered a more challenging venue condition wise (and thus, swimmers in the best swimming condition are the ones who tend to excel).

 

            Elite was lead by 10 year old Kaitlin Stearns, who won two of her 9 events. Using a long and powerful stroke, Kaitlin outswam her competition in both the 50 meter (31.75) and 100 meter (1.08.44) freestyle. Kaitlin missed a hat trick (winning 3 events) when she closed in on her competition in the 200 free, losing by just 3 hundreds of a second in posting a 2.29.02 time. Kaitlin also placed 5th in the 50 back (38.15) and 6th in the 50 fly (36.19).

 

            12 year old Regan Kology fought off her Ridgewood nemesis Michelle Kim in the 50 free to touch first in the 50 meter free (29.07). Regan also placed 2nd twice (both to Kim) in the 400 free (4.47.74) and the 200 free (2.18.11) and third twice: 100 free (1.03.93) and 200 IM (2.37.53). To put Regan’s performances in proper perspective, understand that in all 5 of these events, Regan qualified to represent NJ Swimming at Eastern Zones as a 13-14 year old this summer!!! Regan’s 50 free, 400 free & 200 free swims would have placed her 4th, 5th  and 6th respectively at this meet in the 13-14 events.   

 

            10 year old Chris Balbo crushed his competition in his last event, the 100 butterfly (1.18.84) by winning by over 2 seconds (and over 7 seconds faster than the 3rd place finisher). Balbo also placed 2nd in the 100 back (1.23.36), 2nd in the 50 fly (36.93), 3rd in the 200 IM (2.55.79), 4th in the 200 free (2.35.63) & 5th in the 100 free (1.13.60).  

 

            16 year old Ricky Martin finaled 4 times this weekend (competing in both the am preliminaries and in finals at night). Ricky placed 13th in the 100 free (56.91 & 57.17) and also competed in the bonus consolation round in both the 50 free (25.94 & 26.30) and the 100 back (1.05.66 & 1.06.53).

 

            12 year old Ryan Sebastian racked up all sorts of points by being in the mix in numerous events: 2nd in the 100 back (1.12.10), 3rd in the 50 back (33.95), 3rd in the 100 fly (1.09.44), 3rd in the 50 fly (30.53), 4th in the 200 IM (2.39.15) & 7th in the 100 breast (1.28.26).

 

            10 year old Andrea Galea placed in the top 7 (thus scoring points) in 8 of her 9 events: 2nd in the 100 back (1.21.17), 3rd in the 50 back (37.39), 4th in the 50 free (32.78), 5th in the 50 breast (43.46), 6th in both the 100 free (1.12.20) and the 200 free (2.39.37) & 7th in both the 100 breast (1.36.73) and in the 200 IM (2.57.20).  

 

            11 year old Zach Katz placed in the top 8 in 4 separate events: 4th in the 50 breast (37.40), 5th in the 50 fly (31.95), 7th in the 50 free (30.41) and 8th in the 100 fly (1.14.94). Zach’s 50 breast and 50 fly time are summer Zone qualifiers.

 

            12 year old Alli Dorneo touched 4th in the 50 back (35.61) while 12 year old Jeffrey Dong placed 5th in both the 50 breast (37.51) and the 100 breast (1.23.40).

 

            12 year old Lindsay Stearns worked her butterfly this weekend in placing 5th in the 100 (1.14.28) and 6th in the 50 (33.40). 14 year old Michael Li placed 7th in the 200 breast (2.49.10). 14 year old Ryan Wyer placed 8th in the 50 free (27.66).

 

            10 year old Amy Duren dropped 5 seconds to place 9th overall in the 100 fly (1.25.47). Since Amy does not age up until late August, this time qualifies her for Eastern Zones this summer.

 

Swimmers who participated (# in parathesis is number of best Elite LCM best times):  Chris Balbo (8), Emily Buckman (1), Brannon Cho (1), Morgan Conley (2), Jeffrey Dong (2), Alli Dorneo (2), Amy Duren (2), Priya Duvvuri (1), Andrea Galea (9), Jess Gorham (2), Alyssa Hartigan (6), Matthew Hong (5), Brent Jones, Zach Katz (7), Regan  Kology (8), Michael Li (3), Ricky Martin (4), Katie McGrath (3), Brendan Miller-Radest (4), Kara Miller-Radest (3), Christina Pick (8), Gabrielle Pick, Ryan Sebastian (9), Andrea Shepard (3), Kaitlin Stearns (7), Lindsay Stearns (3) & Ryan Wyer.

 

MEANWHILE IN CRANFORD, WAVE TEALS & MARLINS SHOW DEVELOPMENT:

CONLEY, CRITCHLEY (2), DON (2), A. FRESEN (2), R FRESEN, MUKHERJREE & K. SHEPARD WIN EVENTS:

 

On Saturday, three Elite training groups traveled to Cranford to compete in a dual meet against the Jersey Gators South. For the Wave Teals and Marlin Blacks, most were competing in events they wont be competing in this coming weekend at the Princeton Invitational (thus their secondary events). Following the CeraVe qualifiers lead, the Elite swimmers brought their A game and posted impressive results.

 

10 year old Matt Critchley, 12 year old DeYoung Don and 8 year old Andy Fresen each won 2 events apiece against the Gators. Critchley, who has already qualified for every JO event offered except the 500 free, won the 9-10 50 yard breast (43.26) and the 50 yard butterfly (36.50) in JO times.

 

Don, who is new to winter swimming this year, continues to develop as he dropped 5 seconds to win the 100 free (1.06.83). In his 1st attempt at the 100 breast, DeYoung also placed 1st (1.30.97).

 

8 year old Andy Fresen has become this year’s poster child of hard work. By coming to practice consistently and working hard while there, Fresen was able to win both the 100 IM (1.42.61) and the 50 fly (47.51).  Fresen dropped 14 seconds in the IM and a whopping 38 seconds in the 50 fly!!!

 

Andy’s twin brother RJ also brought home a 1st place finish, by winning the 8 & U 50 back in a 48.18. RJ also placed 2nd in the 50 fly (48.28-yes, the Fresen’s went 1-2 in the 50 fly!!!).

 

10 year old Morgan Conley dropped time in both the 50 free (34.01), which she won and the 50 breast (45.21), in which she placed 2nd.

 

8 year old Sandeepan Mukherjee got to the wall first in the 50 free (44.79). Sandee also placed 3rd in the 50 breast (1.03.38). 8 year old Katy Shepard won the 50 back (45.29) and placed 2nd in the 100 IM (1.41.96)

 

10 year old Emily Buckman placed 2nd in the 100 IM (1.26.50) while also placing 3rd in the 50 breast (46.04).  11 year old Charlotte Morrissey also placed both 2nd (100 fly-1.28.24) and 3rd (100 breast-1.37.11- a 5 second drop). Greg Niccolai posted 3 second drop in his 2nd place finish in the 100 IM (1.22.55) and a 6 second drop in his 3rd place finish in the 100 back (1.24.70). 13 year old Kara Stevens also did the 2nd/3rd place finish thing by placing 2nd in the 100 back (1.23.53) and 3rd in the 200 IM (3.05.35).

 

8 year old Megan Balbo placed 2nd in the 50 fly (53.63) while 9 year old Abbie Bigham placed 2nd in the 50 back (42.34). 10 year old Jimmy Coyne touched 2nd in the 100 IM (1.30.29) while 10 year old Emily Goad also touched 2nd in the 50 fly (39.36). 11 year old Jared Kovacs splashed to a 2nd place finish in the 100 fly (1.25.61) while Joseph Pick scooped up a 2nd place finish in the 50 breast (1.02.98). 11 year old Sonia Samtani dropped 2.6 seconds to place 2nd in the 100 free (1.15.26). 9 year old Michael Tortorella placed 2nd in the 50 back (43.83).

 

Third place finishers were: 10 year old Ethan Blum: 50 breast (53.30), 8 year old Elizabeth Denehy: 50 back (57.07), 11 year old Andrea Ferrell: 100 back (1.23.38), 8 year old Ava Fitzsimons in both the 50 breast (1.00.70) and the 50 fly (1.01.33), 9 year old Emily Gorham: 50 fly (39.90), 11 year old Scott Harris: 100 fly (1.27.54), 8 year old Colin Hart: 100 IM (1.48.92), 12 year old Elana Horowitz: 100 free (1.18.58), 10 year old Sarah Kleppe: 50 back (42.65) and 9 year old Brandon Li in both the 100 IM (1.34.12) and the 50 fly (43.49).

 

Swimmers who participated (# in parathesis is number of best Elite SCY best times):  Megan Balbo (1), Brielle Barba (2), Abbie Bigham (1), Ethan Blum (2), Annie Botte (1), Katie Brosnan (1), Emily Buckham (2), Thomas Burke (2), Eloise Burn (1), Sarah Burn (2), Meggie Butler (2), Richie Carchia (2), Morgan Conley (2), Jimmy Coyne (1), Matt Critchley (1), Elizabeth D’Altrui (2), Elizabeth Denehy (2), Deyoung Don (2), Ryan Dorneo (2), Katie Fell (2), Summer Felsen (1), Andrea Ferrell (2), Ava Fitzsimons (2), Andy Fresen (2), Erika Fresen (1), RJ Fresen (2), Katherine Friday (2), Clio Galea (2), Tabatha Georget (1), Patrick Gilfillan (2), Emily Goad (1), Alexandra Gordon (2), Dominique Gordon, Emily Gorham (2), Scott Harris (2), Colin Hart (2), Jason Hoehn (2), Rachel Hong (2), Elana Horowitz (1), Katie Iovel (2), Alex Jacobs (2), Sara Jacobs (2), Rachel Keselman, Sarah Kleppe (1), Jared Kovacs (1), Jessica Kraus (2), Maddy Kretten (1), Brandon Li (2), Sarah Lowe (1), Matthew Migliozzi (1), Charlotte Morrissey (2), Sandeepan Mukherjee (2), Gregory Niccolai (2), Gail Ocheretyaner (2), Joseph Pick (2), Sonia Samtani (2), Katy Shepard (2), Abigail Shvorin (2), Will Stearns (2), Kara Stevens, Abir Thakur (2), Michael Tortorella (3), Katie Tselepis (2), Jack Wenzel & Harry Woods (2).

 

SAM DUREN: CUB PHOTOGRAPHER FOR SWIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE.COM:

 

            Taking advantage of a tremendous opportunity, Elite swimmer Sam Duren spent the weekend as a intern photographer for Swimming World Magazine.com covering the CeraVe Invitational meet.

 

            As part of the effort by the sport of swimming to capitalize on the popularity of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Swimming World Magazine is prominently promoting both the CeraVe Invitational and the Rutgers College Conference Carnival this coming weekend. As part of that promotion, Swimming World Magazine provided opportunities this past weekend for 11 New Jersey student athletes to participate in the internship program. Other interns reported or videotaped the meet (which the finals were broadcast live at swimmingworldmagazine.com). 

 

            Sam took hundreds of pictures (possibly an abnormal proportion of Elite swimmers-including his sister). Many of his pictures can be viewed at http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/BerkeleyWinterInvitational2009/.

 

                As part of his internship assignment, Sam worked closely with magazine editor Brent Rutemiller. Sam loved taking the pictures but did comment that he had not realized how physically demanding the work would be.

 

PIRATE SWIM CLUB THROWS MONKEY WRENCH INTO SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE 5 WEEKS OUT;  ELITE TO EVALUATE SITUATION AND POSSIBLY ALTER SEASON END FOR SOME SWIMMERS:

 

            On Friday, January 9 the meet host (Pirate Swim Club) of both the Mini-Champs and the Senior States informed the New Jersey Swimming Board of Directors that due to issues concerning the facility at Seton Hall University, the dates of these two meets needed to change (actually flip-flop). The Mini-Championships (8 & U end of season championship meet) is now scheduled for Sunday, February 15 and Senior States is now scheduled for Friday, February 20th thru Sunday, February 22.

 

            For numerous reasons, Elite will now re-evaluate how the change of these dates impact Elite on its end of season training and performance schedule. Information regarding how Elite plans to proceed regarding these two meets will be forthcoming shortly (hopefully, by the end of this week).

 

ALL 5 ELITE RELAYS ACCEPTED INTO RUTGERS “COLLEGE CONFERENCE CARNIVAL” ON JAN 16-17; ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL;

 

            Trying to build on the swimming phenomena generated from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rutgers University Women’s Team will host a “College Conference Carnival” at Rutgers University on Friday, January 16 & Saturday, January 17, 2009. Committed to competing are Rutgers, University of Florida, University of North Carolina and University of Richmond. 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 now 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. All five Elite relays submitted for entry have been invited to participate. Relays are posted on the team website.

 

            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.

           

            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 know being offered at: http://ev12.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetGroupList?groupCode=RF&linkID=rutgers&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=.

 

            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!!!

 

BEST PART OF TAPER? HANGING OUT WITH OLYMPIAN MARK GANGLOFF!!

 

            Every swimmer knows the best part of “taper” season is resting. Well, this year, Elite swimmers will taper by resting and hanging out with 2008 Olympian Mark Gangloff!!

 

            Organized and coordinated by the Elite Swim Club Parents Organization, Elite will hold a 1 day seminar on Sunday February 22, 2009 with eight place finisher Beijing Olympian Mark Gangloff. As with past Olympian Seminars, Mark will discuss his career, give swimming tips and instruct swimmers in the water. If we are lucky, he will race one or two of his new friends.

 

            Information regarding the event is now on the Elite website under Mark Gangloff. Register today by sending your check to ESCPO Sandi Niccolai 4 Redman Farm Road Mendham, NJ  (please note the correct zip is: 07945).

 

ELITE TOP 10 ALL TIME SWIMS UPDATED (INCLUDING LONG COURSE!):

 

The Top 10 All-Time Swims list has been updated thru Winterfest & CeraVe Invitational. Check out all the new times added to the list from this year’s spectacular swims!!!      

 

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

 

            Parents are reminded that although we ran a spectacular Distance Derby meet two weeks ago 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 heading towards our heaviest training (December & January), 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 3 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:

CORRECTION: 80% NEEDED FOR WAVE GOLDS TO BE PROMOTED:

 

            As we hit 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 (changed from last year due to removal of practice make-ups)

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.

 

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!!!