ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               01-19-09

 

ALL SORTS OF FUN & EXCITEMENT AT RUTGERS COLLEGE CONFERENCE CARNIVAL:

POOL RECORDS; INCREDIBLE COLLEGE GIRLS SWIMMING, LIVE WEBCASTING, CLOWN DIVING

AND ELITE 12 & UNDER BOYS WIN RELAY WHILE BOTH 11-12 & 10 & UNDER GIRLS PLACE 2ND:

MELCHIOR ADDS JO CUT:

 

            Building on the swimming phenomena generated from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Rutgers University Women’s Team hosted a “College Conference Carnival” at Rutgers University on Friday, January 16 & Saturday, January 17, 2009. Competing at the college level were 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 “carnival,” Elite swimmers were invited to compete in relays during the meet.

 

            On Friday night, the 11-12 foursome of Ryan Sebastian (back), Zach Katz (breast), Matthew Hong (fly) and Jeffrey Dong (free) swam away from their competition in the 4 x 50 Medley Relay. There time of 1.55.76 was 2.5 seconds faster than their seed time and more than 3 seconds faster than the 2nd place finisher Red Bank YMCA. This is also just 3 seconds over the state record. As a result of winning their race, the Elite boys were interviewed by Swimming World Magazine as part of a live broadcast of the meet.

 

            Also on Friday night, the Elite quartet of Alli Dorneo (back), Juliet Felsen (breast), Lindsay Stearns (fly) and Regan Kology (free) rocketed to a 2nd place finish behind Central Jersey Aquatic Club in the 4 x 50 Medley Relay in a time of 159.69. Fighting to break from the pack, a strong fly leg by Stearns allowed Kology to close in on CJAC but Regan just ran out of pool and lost by only .09. Regan’s free split was a sizzling 25.10!

 

            Following up on their elders success, the relay of Kaitlin Stearns, Andrea Galea, Alyssa Hartigan and Christina Pick placed 2nd in the 4 X 50 Free Relay for 10 & Unders. The girls time of 1.57.11 was 3 seconds under their seed time.

 

            Representing Elite for the 10 & Under boys were Chris Balbo, Matthew Critchley, Michael Tortorella and Patrick Hong, who placed 4th in their 4 x 50 Free Relay (time of 206.43 was almost 4 seconds under their seed time).

 

            Also competing for Elite on Friday night was the quartet of Karl Mechior (back), Andre Guacelli (breast), Aaron Levin (fly) & De Don (free) in the 11-12 4 x 50 Medley Relay. This group placed 6th and Melchior, taking advantage of the rule which allows backstroke times to count towards qualifying times, dipped below the Junior Olympic time with his 33.35 time (giving him a 3rd JO cut!).

 

A replay of all of the event videos can be viewed at: http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/CollegeConferenceCarnival2009/

 

During the college girls competition, Gemma Spoffroth of University of Florida broke a Rutgers Pool record with her 1.54.93 effort  Spoffforth also added the 100 back pool record to her resume with a 53.95 time. Teammate Stephanie Proud destroyed the pool record (by 6 seconds) when she crushed the field with a 4.11.97 time in the 400 IM. Florida placed 1st in the 4 team competition while University of North Carolina placed 2nd . Rutgers just edged out University of Richmond for 3rd place.

 

Those in attendance were also treated to the hilarious antics of clown divers, a big man cannonball contest, several Master Swimmer’s attempts at national records and free give aways.

 

            Those who participated were: Chris Balbo, Matthew Critchley, De Don, Jeffrey Dong, Alli Dorneo, Juliet Felsen, Andrea Galea, Andre Guacelli, Alyssa Hartigan, Matt Hong, Patrick Hong, Zach Katz, Regan Kology, Aaron Levin, Karl Mechior, Christina Pick, Ryan Sebastian, Kaitlin Stearns, Lindsay Stearns & Michael Tortorella.

 

ELITE EXPRESS CONTINUES JOURNEY THRU PRINCETON:

ELITE VIRTUALLY TIES TEAM RECORD TOTAL FOR JO QUALIFYING SWIMS (IN MID JAN!!!);

35 SEPARATE SWIMMERS POST 5 OR 6 PERSONAL BESTS!!!

AHLMEYER, FELSEN (4), J. GORHAM, M. HONG, P. HONG, KATZ, MELCHIOR, K. MILLER-RADEST, SEBASTIAN & SHEPARD PUSH JO COUNT TO 44 SWIMMERS, 281 EVENTS!!!

A. GALEA WINS 5 EVENTS, C BALBO WINS 4; KATZ & KOLOGY WIN 1 APIECE:

 

            Continuing their torrid pace of fast swimming, the Elite Age Groupers staged another knockout show at the Princeton Invitational this past weekend. An amazing 35 different swimmers performed 5 or 6 personal bests in 6 swims!!!! Many of these swimmers were current Silver level swimmers who set themselves up to qualify for Junior Olympics later this season.

 

            10 year olds Andrea Galea and Chris Balbo mauled their competition, winning 9 of the 12 events they competed within. Both also placed 2nd in their other events. 12 year old Juliet Felsen added 4 Junior Olympic cuts in 6 swims.

 

            As a team, Elite now has qualified 44 swimmers in 281 events for Junior Olympics. With still 2 months to go in the season, these totals compare to: 1) 2008 Elite qualified 45 swimmers in 284 events and 2) in 2007 Elite qualified 32 swimmers in 178 events.

 

            Galea dropped time in all 6 of her events this weekend, winning the 100 back (1.10.17), the 50 free (28.74), the 50 fly (32.92), the 100 free (1.02.02) and the 50 back (32.24). Andrea placed 2nd in the 100 IM (1.12.92).

 

            Balbo won the 200 free (2.15.94), the 100 back (1.14.44), the 50 fly (32.43) and the 100 free (1.04.89). Chris also placed 2nd in the 50 breast (40.82) and the 200 IM (2.33.83).

 

            12 year old Zach Katz dropped 2 full seconds to win the 50 fly event in crushing the 30 second barrier (28.22). Katz also placed 3rd in the 50 free (26.53) and the 100 breast (1.13.60-a 4 second drop) and 4th in the 50 back (31.77). Katz added a JO cut to his previous 14 cut collection in the 100 free (59.52), also dipping below the 1 minute barrier for the 1st time.

 

            12 year old Regan Kology continued her personal assault on the 500 free event, dropping 2 more seconds to win with a 5.21.08. Kology has now dropped 9.5 seconds in this event since last year, when she placed 3rd at JO’s. Regan also placed 2nd in the 100 free (56.23), 3rd in the 200 IM (2.21.03), 4th in the 100 fly (1.07.14) and 5th in the 50 fly (29.86-1st time under 30 seconds).

 

            12 year old Juliet Felsen collected 4 additional JO qualifying times (her total is now at 11) in performing personal bests in all 6 swims. Juliet placed 3rd in the 50 breast (35.72) and 9th in both the 50 free (28.18) and the 100 breast (1.18.95).

 

            By going gold in the 100 breast, 12 year old Ryan Sebastian is now just 1 event from qualifying in each of the 18 JO events offered 11-12s. Ryan placed 2nd in 3 events (200 IM-2.17.87, 100 back-1.03.16 & the 50 back-29.04) and 3rd in two others (50 breast-34.23 & 100 IM-1.05.18). Ryan’s 100 breast swim was a 7th place finish. Sebastian’s training mate 12 year old Matthew Hong also added the 100 breast (1.12.80) to his impressive JO arsenal (15 swims). Matthew came in 3rd in both the 50 fly (29.11) and the 50 back (31.18) and 5th in the 100 fly (1.07.60).

 

            10 year old Kaitlin Stearns finised in the top 4 in all of her 6 swims: 2nd in the 50 free (28.91), 2nd in the 200 IM (2.39.24), 3rd in the 100 back (1.13.08), 3rd in the 100 free (1.02.46), 3rd in the 50 back (35.34) and 4th in the  100 fly (1.20.18). 12 year old Andrea Shepard touched 4th in three separate events: 200 IM (2.27.59), 100 IM (1.09.53) and the 200 free (2.09.75). Shepard’s 100 IM was another JO qualifying time for her (total: 17).

 

            12 year old Lindsay Stearns placed 2nd in the 100 fly (1.06.68), 5th in the 100 IM (1.09.75) and 7th twice: 100 back (1.07.36) and 500 free (5.51.05). 12 year old Jeffrey Dong placed 2nd twice: 50 breast (33.81) and 100 breast (1.13.45) while also finishing 4th in the 50 free (26.61).

 

            16 year old Adam Weinbrom dropped 6 seconds to place 3rd in the 400 IM. Adam also placed 5th in the 50 free (23.38) and 9th in the 200 fly (2.18.04-a 15 second drop!!). All 3 of these swims place Adam at the cusp of JO times. 10 year old Christina Pick chopped time off in 4 events and placed no higher than 6th in her events: 4th in both the 50 breast (40.44) & 50 back (35.69), 5th in 3 events: 100 back (1.16.41), 50 free (30.79) and 100 breast (1.29.64) and 6th in the 100 free (1.08.43).

 

            In dropping a full second, 12 year old Jess Gorham dipped under the JO qualifying time in the 50 fly (31.49) for her 9th JO swim. 12 year old Kara Miller-Radest added her 12th JO swim in the 50 free (28.29).

 

            10 year old Patrick Hong was the only “new” JO qualifier this weekend, punching thru the qualifying time in the 100 breast (1.35.48). 14 year old Matt Ahlmeyer, who snooped around a number of JO qualifying times at Winterfest, bagged his 2nd cut, this time in the 400 IM (4.58.36). 

 

            11 year old Karl Melchior added two JO qualifying times this weekend (see Rutgers for 50 back). Karl dropped almost 8 seconds in his 200 IM swim (2.35.42) and performed personal bests all 6 times (7 if you count Rutgers) he swam this weekend.        

 

            Other notable performances:

           

1)      14 year old Jenni Allocco dropped 23 seconds in the 500 free

2)      10 year old Brielle Barba had 5 personal bests and dropped 10 seconds in the 100 back

3)       14 year old Mark Berns had 6 personal bests and dropped 10 seconds in the 200 IM

4)       9 year old Abbie Bigham had 6 personal bests and dropped 17 seconds in the 200 free

5)       13 year old Nicole Blum had 5 personal bests and dropped 7 seconds in the 200 IM

6)       16 year old John Burns had 5 personal bests and dropped 8 seconds in the 100 fly

7)       10 year old Meggie Burns had 6 personal bests and dropped 8 seconds in the 200 IM

8)       11 year old Elizabeth D’Altrui had 6 personal bests and dropped 19 seconds in the 100 free

9)       12 year old DeYoung Don had 6 personal bests and dropped 5 seconds in the 50 back

10)   10 year old Amy Duren had 5 personal bests and dropped 21 seconds in the 200 free

11)   15 year old Sam Duren had 5 personal bests and dropped 6 seconds in the 200 IM

12)   11 year old Avi Duvvuri had 6 personal bests and dropped 10 seconds in the 100 free

13)   13 year old Krishna Duvvuri had 5 personal bests and dropped 6 seconds in the 200 back

14)   11 year old Katie Fell had 5 personal bests and dropped 13 seconds in the 50 fly

15)    9 year old Katherine Friday had 5 personal bests and dropped 8 seconds in the 100 back

16)    11 year old Andre Guacelli had 6 personal bests and a 10 second drop in the 100 free

17)    13 year old Emma Harris had 5 personal bests

18)    10 year old Sarah Kleppe had 6 personal bests and a 18 second drop in the 200 IM

19)    13 year old Patrick Lai had 6 personal bests and a 20 second drop in the 200 free

20)    13 year old Clark LaRaia had 6 personal bests and a 35 second drop in the 200 IM

21)    11 year old Isabel LaRaia had 5 personal bests and a 4 second drop in the 100 back

22)     9 year old Brandon Li had 6 personal bests

23)     14 year old Jessie Lowe had 5 personal bests and a 6 second drop in the 200 free

24)     10 year old Sarah Lowe had 5 personal bests and a 20 second drop in the 200 free

25)     11 year old Charlotte Morrissey had 6 personal bests and a 5 second drop in the 100 back

26)     12 year old Dara O’Gorman had 5 personal bests and a 9 second drop in the 200 free

27)      12 year old Nick Pachiolo had 5 personal bests and a 5 second drop in the 100 IM

28)      11 year old Gabrielle Pick had 6 personal bests and a 7.5 second drop in the 100 fly

29)   11 year old Camille Relota had 5 personal bests and a 12 second drop in the 100 free

30)    11 year old Abir Thakur had 5 personal bests and a 4 second drop in the 100 back

31)    11 year old Harry Woods had 5 personal bests and a 12.5 second drop in the 100 back

 

Swimmers who participated (# in parathesis is number of best Elite SCY best times):  Matt Ahlmeyer (6), Jenni Allocco (4), Arlynn Baer (2), Chris Balbo (3), Megan Balbo (2), Brielle Barba (5), Lindsay Behar (4), Mark Berns (6), Abbie Bigham (6), Nicole Blum (5), Katie Brosnan (3), Emily Buckman (4), Thomas Burke (4), John Burns (5), Meggie Butler (6),Stephanie Chen (4), Brannon Cho (4), Morgan Conley (2), Jimmy Coyne (4), Matthew Critchley (2), Elizabeth D’Altrui (6), Drew D’Andrea (4), Anthony Don (4), DeYoung Don (6), Jeffrey Dong (4), Ali Dorneo, Amy Duren (5), Sam Duren (5), Avinash Duvvuri (6), Krishna Duvvuri (5), Madeleine Faust (3), Katie Fell (5), Juliet Felsen (6), Andrea Ferrell (1), Erika Fresen (1), Katherine Friday (5), Andrea Galea (6), Clio Galea (4), Ariel Gelman (1), Tabatha Georget (2), Patrick Gilfillan (2), Alexandra Gordon (4), Emily Gorham (1), Jess Gorham (3), Lydia Gracey (2), Kevin Greener (2), Andre Guacelli (6),  Emma Harris (5), Scott Harris (2), Alyssa Hartigan (3), Jason Hoehn (3), Matthew Hong (5), Patrick Hong (3), Rachel Hong (2), Elana Horowitz (1), Andrew Huang (4), Jack Hughes, Katie Iovel (4), Zach Katz (6), Rachel Keselman (2), Sarah Kleppe (6), Regan Kology (4), Jared Kovacs (3), Jessica Kraus (1), Patrick Lai (6), Clark LaRaia (6), Isabel LaRaia (5), Aaron Levin (1), Brandon Li (6), Jessie Lowe (5), Sarah Lowe (5), Katie McGrath (3), Karl Melchior (6), Matthew Migliozzi (2), Kara Miller-Radest (5), Isabella Morreale (1), Andrew Morrison (3), Charlotte Morrissey (6), Daniel Muro (3), Julia Muro (1), Caroline Nash (3), Alexandra N’Diaye (1), Gregory Niccolai (3), Rebecca Niccolai (4), Eric Ocheretyaner (3), Gail Ocheretyaner (4), Dara O’Gorman (5), Nick Pachiolo (5), Christina Pick (4), Gabrielle Pick (6), Michelle Pick (4), Natalie Pruitt (4), Mikala Quinn (3), Camille Relota (5), Taylor Savarese (1), Daniel Scherb (3), Ryan Sebastian (2), Andrea Shepard (4), Katy Shepard (3), Abigail Shvorin (2), Jonas Singer (3), Jessica Solodkin (1), Kaitlin Stearns (2), Lindsay Stearns (3), Kara Stevens (4), Abir Thakur (5), Michael Tortorella (2), Rachael Tortorella (2), Katie Tselepis (1), Caroline Watt (2), Adam Weinbrom (5), Sarah Weimbrom (4), Harry Woods (5) & Richard Yu (2).

 

ATTENDANCE THRU NOV TILL STRONG; 2 OF 7 TRAINING GROUPS AVERAGING OVER 85%; ALL GROUPS OVER 73%, WAVE TEALS LEAD WAY WITH 86%!!! ATHLETES RECOGNIZED:

 

          Practice attendance is the foundation of improvement. Starting the season with good attendance (and thus, great work habits and a great aerobic base), is the way to faster swimming. Thru (and half way thru the season November, the Elite Swimmers have continued to show their diligent work ethic by attending practice at an astonishing rate of close to 80% as a team!!! As of yesterday, the Wavebuster Teal training group leads the outstanding Elite attendance race by averaging, as a training group, 86.68% attendance!!! The Wave Teals are followed by the Seniors (85.25%), the Senior Preps (78.26%), the Wave Blacks (78.12%), the Marlin Blacks (76.70%), the Marlin Teals (75.23%) & Wave Golds (73.14%).

 

At the end of the Season Awards Dinner, Elite swimmers with 85% attendance (or greater) will be presented with the Attendance Award. This award, plus attendance requirements for swimmers who want to be promoted, have positively motivated Elite Swimmers to come to practice.

 

            73 swimmers (41.01% of the team!!!) are currently on track to win the attendance award (who have an 85% or higher attendance record-* designates perfect attendance!):

 

            Marlin Teals:  Ethan Blum, Richard Carchia, Ryan Dorneo*, Andy Fresen, Sandeepan Mukherjee & Will Stearns 

 

            Marlin Blacks: Megan Balbo*, Erika Fresen, Clio Galea, Rachel Hong, Katie Iovel, Jessica Kraus, Brandon Li* & Abigail Shvorin

 

Wavebuster Teals: Brielle Barba, Abbie Bigham, Katie Brosnan, Emily Buckman*, Meggie Butler, Morgan Conley, Jimmy Coyne, Elizabeth D’Altrui, Deyoung Don, Amy Duren, Katie Fell*, Andrea Ferrell*, Katherine Friday, Emily Goad, Emily Gorham, Patrick Hong*, Andrew Huang, Rachel Keselman, Jared Kovacs, Sarah Lowe, Charlotte Morrissey*, Camile Relota, Abir Thakur & Michael Tortorella 

 

Wavebuster Blacks: Chris Balbo*, Lindsay Behar, Drew D’Andrea, Andrea Galea, Jess Gorham, Alyssa Hartigan*, Karl Melchior, Isabella Morreale, Caroline Nash, Taylor Savarese, Rachael Tortorella & Caroline Watt

 

Wavebuster Golds:  Matt Ahlmeyer, Anthony Don, Alli Dorneo, Matt Hong, Regan Kology, Aaron Levin, Katie McGrath, Kara Miller-Radest, Eric Ocheretyanger, Ryan Sebastian*, Kaitlin Stearns, Lindsay Stearns, Sarah Weinbrom

 

Senior Preps: Emmie Lai, Brendan Miller-Radest, Ryan Wyer  

 

            Seniors:  Lindsay Anderson, Victoria D’Altrui, Michael Li, Ali Morreale*, Maggie Nelson, Brittany Ross & Michael Strand*

 

END OF SEASON ALTERED TO ACCOMMODATE MEETS, SPRING SESSION:

EVERYONE TRAINS TIL FRIDAY, MARCH 13:

 

            As all Elite swimmers and parents know, Elite has developed significantly over the past 4 years. Thru a combination of need changes and changes in the end of the season meet championship schedule, Elite will significantly alter from past years “end of the season” training plan to accommodate the swimmers most pressing need: to continue to develop.

 

            This year, all Elite swimmers (regardless of age or ability) will be invited to continue to train thru Friday, March 13, regardless of their status viz a viz championship meets. This means that all 8 & Unders, all 9 & 10’s and all 11 & 12 will continue training AFTER their Mini Championship meet or AFTER their Silver/Bronze Meets up to Friday, March 13. Junior Olympic and Zone swimmers will continue to train thru the conclusion of their championship meet.

 

All swimmers (with the possible exception of Zone swimmers), will begin their Spring Season together on Monday, April 6.

 

            Changing the schedule this way allows for non-JO level swimmers (and parents) 3 weeks off between seasons (much needed mental and physical rest) and Junior Olympic swimmers 2 full weeks off between sessions.

 

            The result of this decision to “de-couple” the end of the season training with their championship meets allows Elite swimmers to attend Championship Meets without having to worry about how long a swimmer is out of the pool (too long hurts their development). Please note that the training within each training group will be altered during this time frame, with the post championship swimmers grouped together in practice to work on conditioning while the pre-championship swimmers will focus on stroke details, racing and resting for their upcoming championship meet.          

 

            Thus, Elite will elect to attend the Mini-Championships on Sunday, February 15, along with the 9-10, 11-12 & 13 & Older Silver Bronze Championships. Elite will also plan to host a “Last Chance” Meet on Saturday, February 14, time to be determined.

 

            One additional change, with the date change of the Senior State Championship Meet to Friday, February 20 thru Sunday, February 22, this meet will now become (another Elite 1st) an “optional” for Elite swimmers 15 & Older who have high school meet conflicts. Optional is defined as: if there is a significant reason not to have a swimmer swim in the meet (such as 1) a conflict with a high school championship meet or 2) too many meets in successive weekends to insure great end of season performances, a swimmer with coach guidance can opt out of competing at Senior States.   

 

ENHANCED SECURITY WILL ELIMINATE “BACK ENTRANCE” AT MBS:

 

            In an effort to enhance security, Morristown Beard will now keep the “back entrance” locked at all times. MBS is requesting that swimmers enter thru the front or rotunda entrance from now on. In addition to the rotunda door being open, a door near the locker rooms (on the other side of the building) should be unlocked as well.

 

 PARENTS GEARING UP FOR 9-10 SILVER BRONZE CHAMPIONSHIPS:

 

            The Meet Coordinators of the 9-10 Silver Bronze Championships are gearing up for this championship meet which Elite will host Saturday, February 28 & Sunday, March 1st at Newark Academy.

 

All parents of swimmer 10 years of age and younger (yes, including 8 year olds and 7 year olds) are expected to work this meet.  Carolyn Balbo will begin contacting parents shortly to begin the organization process of running the meet, manning the various jobs, etc. Please respond to her as soon as you are able to help make her job easier.

 

            Parents of all 13 & Older swimmers will also be contacted in the near future regarding Elite’s co-hosting of the 13 & Older Silver Bronze Championships at Rutgers University.

 

THINKING SUMMER? THINK SUMMER SWIM CAMPS!:

 

            Although the hot sun and humid weather seems millions of years away, summer is only 6 months away and top-notch swim camps are already taking registrations for the summer of 2009.

When planning the upcoming summer, please consider sending your Elite swimmer (Wave Black level, Wave Teal level, Marlin Black level or Marlin Teal level). Wave Golds and Seniors should remain training with Elite thru the summer months) to one of the numerous swim camps.

 

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). On the website, under Swim Camps at http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Swim Camps/index.html is information regarding Summer Swim Camps. Many of these swim camps close out in late February and early March!!!

 

Thinking about summer? Think Swim Camps!!

 

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).

 

REMINDER: SCHOLAR/ATHLETE AWARDS WILL BE HIGHLIGHT OF AWARDS BANQUET:

 

          With the conclusion of the 2nd marking periods, swimmers are reminded that the ultimate award an Elite swimmer can earn at the season ending Awards Banquet (Sunday, April 6, 2008) will once again be the Elite Scholar-Athlete Awards. Great grades, in addition to great swim times, are required for a swimmer to earn one of these awards.

 

            These awards will be broken down into three levels:

 

1) All-American Scholar Athlete Award: Swimmer must have a 3.5 grade average and at least 1 Sectional Qualifying time. This award is actually a USA Swimming Award and will be presented by New Jersey Swimming. Elite will also provide a certificate to those swimmers who have qualified for this award.

 

2) The Elite Scholar-Athlete Gold Award: A swimmer must have all A’s and no more than 1 B (or the equivalent of all A’s and 1 B) plus at least 1 individual Junior Olympic Qualify Time

 

3) The Elite Scholar-Athlete Teal Award: Swimmer must have all A’s and B’s (of the equivalent) plus at least 1 individual Silver Qualifying Time

 

In addition to each swimmer receiving an impressive certificate from Elite acknowledging this achievement, from this season forward Elite will post the names of its scholar athletes on its website-forever acknowledging its most special scholar-athletes. 

 

Parents of grammar school students should remember that Bill will review the grading legend (assuming A’s and B’s are not given) to ascertain if the swimmer has fulfilled the academic requirements to receive the award.

 

Bill is now accepting the scholastic information. If your swimmer made a JO or Silver qualifying time last summer or this winter and then aged up, an applicant must fill out the application form on the team website that will point Bill to the swim in question. All scholastic information needs to be to Bill by Tuesday, March 18.

 

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!!!