ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 1-22-07
“MIDTERMS GRADES”
IN FOR YOUNGSTERS:
IMPROVEMENT
SIGNFICANT, MORE WORK TO BE DONE (BACKSTROKE TURNS!!!):
BROSNAN, KATZ,
KOLOGY, LEVIN, PICK, SHEPARD ADD JO CUTS:
TONS OF SILVER
CUTS ACHIEVED;
Signaling the midpoint in the season, the Age Groupers competed this past weekend with great success at the Winter Classic 2007 Meet held at Seton Hall University. The hard work Elite swimmers are putting in day after day is certainly paying off, as 6 swimmers added Junior Olympic qualifying times while loads of Silver qualifying times were also achieved.
Leading the way for Elite were the Junior Olympic qualifiers: Courtney Brosnan, Zackie Katz, Regan Kology, Aaron Levin, Michelle Pick and Andrea Shepard. In addition, 10 year old Lindsay Stearns performed spectacular; unfortunately, Lindsay ages up in February so this weekend’s Junior Olympic performances do not translate into 11-12 gold.
First time qualifier (and only 9 years old), Aaron Levin posted Junior Olympic times in both the 200 free (2.40.11) and the 50 Free (32.58). Courtney Brosnan, a 13 event Junior Olympic qualifier as a 10 year old posted her 1st JO time as an 11-12 year old in the 200 back, splashing to a 2.34.38 time (a 5 second drop). Courtney just missed her second JO cut in the 200 Fly, off by just 1 second in that grueling event.
Michelle Pick added her second Junior Olympic time, racing to a 36.98 time in the Girls 10 & U 50 Fly. Zackie Katz posted 2 JO times, bringing his total to 8, in his 1st attempts in the 200 Free (2.34.11) and the 200 IM (2.57.70).
Ten year old studs Andrea Shepard and Regan Kology continued to smash thru the JO barrier. Shepard added two to her totals (100 breast-1.34.61) and 200 Free (2.31.29) for a total of 9 swims while Kology has tapped out; Regan has now qualified for all 12 events offered for 10 & Unders by making the 100 back in a 1.18.87 time.
Along the way, many (way too many to mention-for a list event by event, visit besmarttinc.com/meet information/winter classic) swimmers reached the Silver qualifying level. These swims are equally important as it demonstrates a swimmer’s climb to the highest level of excellence!!! In addition, a slew of swimmers dropped significant time to place them in position to achieve Silver times before the end of the season!!
The weekend did have its downside for Elite as many youngsters were disqualified for improper backstroke turns (particularly in the 10 & Under 100 back). From now to the end of the season, the coaches will be focusing increasingly on start and turn technique in preparation for championship season-now only 5-8 weeks away!!
Swimmers who participated (# in parathesis is number of best SCY best times): Arlynn Baer (5, Chris Balbo (6), Megan Balbo (1), Brielle Barba (4), Abigail Bigham (3), Eric Binder (1), Nicole Blum (5), Courtney Brosnan (6), Katie Brosnan (5), Meg Brosnan (5), Keegan Brown (5), Kayla Burakvsky (5), Alexa Burkard (5), John Burkard (4), John Burns (5), Taylor Campolattaro (3), Ethan Cohen (2), Jonny Crowther (5), Laura Culiuc (5), Elizabeth D’Altrui (6), Jeffrey Dong (4), Amy Duren (4), Sam Duren (4), Avinash Duvvuri (5), Krishna Duvvuri (4), Helena Elston (5), Brandon Faris (5), Madeleine Faust (6), Kristen Fedor (6), Juliet Felsen (4), Andrea Ferrell (4), Victoria Fetner (6), Spencer Fisch (6), Erika Fresen (2), Hannah Gleason (3), Joe Gleason (1), Emily Goad (2), Katie Golway (4), Alexandra Gordon (4), Dominique Gordon (2), Katie Gorman (5), Lydia Gracey (3), Rachel Greene (3), Andre Guacelli, Scott Harris (5), Alyssa Hartigan (3), Brent Jones (5), Zackie Katz (4), Greg Keiser (4), Victoria Keiser (5), Kirsten Kellstrom (5), Mark Kellstrom (5), Michael Kellstrom (1), Caroline Kelly (4), Lauren Kelly (5), Morgan Kiley (1), Sarah Kleppe (6), Regan Kology (1), Jared Kovacs (2), Emmie Lai (2), Patrick Lai (5), Clark LaRaia (5), Isabel LaRaia (6), Aaron Levin (2), Brandon Li (2), Jessie Lowe (3), Sarah Lowe (3), Robert Maloney (6), Daniela Manzi (3), Marisa Manzi (3), Megan McEvoy (2), Katie McGrath (4), Sarah McGrath (5), Matthew Migliozzi (3), Brendan Miller-Radest (2), Colin Miller-Radest (1), Kara Miller-Radest (6), Isabella Morreale (5), Cesar Munoz (6), Madison Munoz, Dan Muro (6), Julia Muro (3), Kendall Murray (3), Caroline Nash (4), Gregory Niccolai (5), Rebecca Niccolai (6), Dara O’Gorman (4), Evan O’Hara (6), Nick Pachiolo (3), Christina Pick (4), Gabrielle Pick (4), Michelle Pick (5), Chris Plunkett (6), Katie Ragan (3), Abigail Rollenhagen (3), Taylor Savarese (3), Amanda Scherb (2), Jonathan Scott (3), RJ Serruto (2), Andrea Shepard (5), Bethany Stachenfeld (3), Kaitlin Stearns (5), Lindsay Stearns (3), James Sullivan (6), Erica Takahashi (5), Lexi Tedesco (1), Spencer Todd (1), Sydney Todd (2), Emily Torre (4), Jennifer Torre (5), Rachel Tortorella (5), Spence Turkington (4), Andrea Tyminski (4), Michael Wang (5), Caroline Watt (4), Sarah Weinbrom (3), Natalie Wetmore (3), Paige Willian (1), Maggie Woodruff (5) & Harry Woods (4).
OLYMPIAN EFFORT FAILS;
NORMAL PRACTICE ON SAT:
Efforts to bring an Olympian to Elite for next weekend has failed. There will be no Olympian Clinic this year at Elite.
Practice this coming weekend will be the normal Saturday practice schedule.
ELITE GEARING FOR 9-10 SILVER/BRONZE CHAMPIONSHIPS;
SHARON
BROSNAN TO COORDINATE;
ALL 9-10 AND 8 & U PARENTS EXPECTED TO HELP; SWIMMERS ARE
INVITED TO HELP!!!
Elite
will be hosting (at Newark Academy) the South 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championships
this season on Saturday, February 24 & Sunday, February 25. Sharon Brosnan,
as the ESCPO Meet Coordinator, will be contacting parents of swimmers 10 &
U this week to request help in coordinating the Parental work efforts.
All
Elite parents of 10 & Under swimmers will be asked to work this meet (8
& Under Parents are being requested to help to train them for next year’s
meet). Coordinating and running the 1st class meets that Elite is
known for takes planning and everyone’s efforts. Please be responsive to Sharon
and her team when you are contacted. Among the jobs needed filled will be:
timing, admission, marshalling, spectactor concessions, coaches concession,
parking, awards and hallway monitoring. Parents who are away will be requested
to provide a financial donation (but we don’t want money, we want your
help!!!).
If you want to be proactive (which would be extremely
helpful), Sharon’s email address is sbrosnan8@comcast.net.
Elite
swimmers (when not at an Elite practice) may also volunteer their time in
fulfilling jobs. Last year’s Elite swimmers had a blast helping marshalling the
10 & unders!!! This volunteer work can be used for community service hours
as Bill will complete all paperwork necessary to document your help.
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 2007. When planning the upcoming summer, please consider sending your Elite swimmer 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, there is a list of swim camps. Many of these
swim camps close out in late February and early March!!!
Thinking about summer? Think Swim Camps!!
Preparations are underway for the biggest party of the season: Elite’s 12th annual Winter Swim Team Banquet!!! This year’s party will be held Sunday, March 25, 2007 from 12:00 am to 4:00 pm.
This year, Elite will again be at the Hanover Marriott, located at 1401 Route 10 East, Whippany, New Jersey. This facility can accommodate up to 700 people!!! The last 5 Elite banquets have had an excess of 350 people each!!!
Further
details about the banquet will be provided in the future. As for now, MARK
YOUR CALENDAR!!!
PHOTOGRAPHERS:
GET YOUR PICTURES OF ELITE SWIMMERS TO BILL:
As the season heads to it’s conclusion, all amateur photographers who have been busy taking candid shots of our Elite stars need to get your pictures to Bill on a compact disk so that Elite can coordinate two major photography projects: 1) the memory book and 2) the slide show at the Elite Awards Dinner.
Courtesy of the Elite Swim Club’s Parents Organization, at the end of this season each swimmer will receive a memory book with dozens of pictures of Elite swimmers. Last year’s (1st year) book was an instant hit and this year’s is expected to be treasured by swimmers for years to come.
In addition, there is a slide show presentation at each year’s Awards Banquet. This year is no different as hundreds of slides will be reviewed for a place in the show.
Please place your pictures on a cd and place them in Bill’s mailbox at Newark Academy!!!
PARENTS
ORGANIZATION SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR POSITIONS FOR 2007-08:
Nominations for positions on the Elite Swim Club Parents Organization Board of Directors are now being sought. Information regarding each position are located on the website under the Parents Organization button.
To send nominations, please email Secretary Sherri Plunkett at sbpl0516@aol.com.
All parents are requested to please consider running, as a swim club is only as strong as its parent’s organization!!!
LESS IS MORE: IF YOU ARE
SICK: BE SMART.
PLEASE DO NOT COME TO PRACTICE
OR MEETS:
Reports are coming into coaches that swimmers who are sick are still coming to practice and meets, presumably to keep up their attendance records. These efforts are actually extremely counter productive for the sick swimmer and for their teammates.
If a swimmer is sick, their 1st and ONLY priority is to get better. Energy expended at practice depletes the energy sources of the body to fight off sickness (thus, the swimmer is likely to become sicker and remain sicker longer). This is not what coaches want: we can only effectively train healthy swimmers.
In addition, a sick swimmer at practice or a meet will likely get OTHER SWIMMERS SICK. This is extremely counter productive.
Missing a practice is the right thing to do if a swimmer is sick. Please think twice before sending a lethargic, coughing swimmer to practice.
TRYOUT INFORMATION NOW POSTED:
Information regarding Elite’s tryouts and Spring Practice
Schedule is now posted on the website. The practice schedule is identical to the
Winter 2006-07 until long course begins. Long course schedules are still being
worked on.
CHAMPIONSHIP MEET SCHEDULE ALTERED; SEE TENTATIVE MEET SCHEDULE:
As a result of a NJ Swim Coaches Meeting Wednesday, Jan 4, there are significant changes to the Championship Meets held in February.
The changes are: 3 State Meets will be held: 1) Junior States (14 & U) 2) Senior States B (15 & Over) and Senior States A (Open Ages). Elite will attend all three meets but the meets are mutually exclusive (no swimmer can attend more than 1 of the 3 meets.
In addition, the 8 & U Mini-Championships to be held at Seton Hall University are now schedule for Saturday, March 3.
TOP 10 ALL-TIME
TIMES IS UPDATED:
The Top 10 All-Time Times list has been updated to include Winterfest 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!!!
PROMOTIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED
IN EARLY FEBRUARY:
Coaches will be working on recommendations for those swimmers who have earned a promotion into the next higher training group for the Spring 2007 Session during the next few weeks. Parents and swimmers are reminded that there are 3 criteria a swimmer must pass to be recommended for a promotion:
1) Attendance. Swimmers being recommended to move into the Marlin Black, Wave Teal, Wave Black and Wave Gold training groups will need a minimum of 70% attendance to be considered. Swimmers being recommended to move into the Senior Preps and Senior training group will need a minimum of 85% attendance to be consider.
2) Stroke Technique. Coaches will be recommending those swimmers who are proficient in their stroke technique to perform at the next higher training group
3) Training. Swimmers training in the A or AA training groups within their training group will be the only ones considered.
Swimmers will be notified of their status for the Spring 2007 Session by mail.
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.
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!!!