ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 01-30-06
FRESH FROM SIX WORLD CUP VICTORIES IN EUROPE, TARA KIRK SPARKLES
ELITE EYES:
Literally off the plane from international competition, 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist Tara Kirk “wowed” 56 lucky swimmers Saturday with stories of hard work and success in both the swimming and academic worlds she occupies.
Showing every bit the charismatic personality she is known for, Tara spoke about and anwered hundreds of questions regarding her achievements, her experiences and her training regiment. While her athletic exploits are well known (a world record holder in the 100 meter breast in addition to her 2004 Olympic exploits), Tara literally bowled over the 30 attending parents when she announced she was also a finalist for the reknown Rhodes Scholarship program at Oxford University in England (Tara made it to the last round!). She is a recent graduate of Stanford University, earning both a undergraduate and masters degree in 5 years!
Tara arrived at Elite one day after competing in Moscow, Russia on the third leg of a two week, three meet format know as the World Cup. The 4th leg of the World Cup is being held at Nassau County (see information below) this coming weekend. At the 3 meet competition (two days in Stockholm, two days in Berlin and two days in Moscow) Tara placed 1st in 6 different races and 2nd in one race (and she passed around her newly acquired medals for the kids).
Interesting tidbit: Tara was originally a gymnist, who got hurt at the age of 11. Her younger swimmer (and fellow Olympian Dana) was the swimming star of the family. Tara took up swimming to rehabilitate her wrist and literally did not swim well until she was 15 years old!!!
After speaking, Tara warmed the kids up with some stretching exercises, signed autographs and then held a swim clinic focusing on breaststroke, her specialty.
Competition was fierce in the 11-12
Girls age group, as Priya Duvvuri, Carolyn DeMeo and Ali Morreale jostled for
the top spot in all three events (all three 100 free times would have won the
13 & Older 100 free event!). Equally competitive was the 13 & Older Boy
age group, where Venkatesh Duvvuri and Duncan Hall clashed 3 times for the top
spot.
Swimmers who participated were: Alex
Aiello (3), Matthew Aiello (3), Lindsay Anderson (1), Arlynn Baer (2), Chris
Balbo (3), Sam Barback (2), Ricky Baum (2), Eric Binder (1), Courtney Brosnan,
Katie Brosnan, Meg Brosnan, Maggie Burd (1), Taylor Campolattaro (3), Monica
Carty (3), Emma Cherry (2), Brannon Cho (3), Joshua Choi (2), Brittany Clark,
Ethan Cohen (1), Marshall Cohen (3), Daniel Collins (2), Victoria D’Altrui (2),
Carolyn DeMeo (3), Daniel DeMeo (3), Parker Dixon (2), Shelby Dixon (3), TJ
Dougherty, Amy Duren (2), Sam Duren (1), Avinash Duvvuri (2), Krishna Duvvuri
(3), Priya Duvvuri (3), Venkatesh Duvvuri (3), Noah Eagle (2), Helena Elston
(2), Kevin Estok (3), Brandon Faris (1), Madeleine Faust (1), Kristen Fedor
(1), Spencer Fisch (3), Breana Fitzpatrick (3), Audrey Gammel (3), Hannah
Gleason (3), Emily Goad, Dominique Gordon (1), Katie Gorman (3), Lydia Gracey
(3), Andre Guacelli (2), Julia Guacelli (3), Duncan Hall (3), Raleigh Heap (1),
Ben Inglese, Chris Inglese, Katie Inglese (3), Brent Jones (3), Zackie Katz
(2), Gregory Keiser (3), Victoria Keiser (3), Kristen Kellstrom (3), Mark
Kellstrom (2), Michael Kellstrom, Caroline Kelly (3), Lauren Kelly (3), Morgan
Kiley (2), Brandon King (2), Regan Kology (2), Emmie Lai (3), Aaron Levin,
Jessie Lowe (3), Robert Maloney (2), Daniela Manzi (3), Marisa Manzi (3),
Danielle Martinez (3), Sarah McGrath (3), Brendon Miller-Radest (2), Ali
Morreale (3), Isabella Morreale (1), Jacquelyn Mullens (3), Cesar Munoz,
Madison Munoz (3), Julia Muro (1), Kendall Murray, Maggie Nelson (3), Gregory
Niccolai (3), Rebecca Niccolai (2), Dara O’Gorman (2), Christina Pick (2),
Gabrielle Pick (2), Michelle Pick (2), Chris Plunkett (3), Katie Ragan (1),
Collin Reilly (2), Abigail Rollenhagen (3), Amanda Scherb (2), Jonathan Scott (2),
Claire Serruto (1), Andrea Shepard (3), Alexandra Smith Wang, Bethany
Stachenfeld (1), Kaitlin Stearns, Lindsay Stearns (3), James Sullivan (2),
Erica Takahashi (3), Lexi Tedesco, Amber Teetsel (2), Grace Thompson (2),
Sydney Todd (1), Jennifer Torre (2), Spence Turkington (1), Michael Wang (3),
Caroline Watt (1), Julia Watt (3), Sarah Weinbrom (2), Nicole Weissman (1),
Natalie Wetmore (1), Alex Wolfson (3) & Maggie Woodruff (3).
FABULOUS ATTENDENCE CONTINUES;
ATHLETES RECOGNIZED:
Sswimmers at Elite have continued their fabulous attendence records thru October. Since improvement occurs at practice and only “shows up” at the meets, attendence is a great indicator that swimmers are already improving their times.
With the
season approximately 3/4 over, FOUR of the SEVEN training groups
are still AVERAGING over 80% attendence!!!! The Wave Blacks are the leading training group
with an average 86% attendence rate. Other training group attendence
levels are: Marlin Teals: 81.6% Marlin Blacks: 85.5% Wave Teals: 88.4% Wave Golds: 81.25% Senior
Preps: 64.9% & Seniors: 81.13.
There is
just one plus month left to get your attendence records up and earn the
attendence award (85%)!!!`
Marlin Teals: Christopher Balbo, Katie Brosnan, Emily Goad, Andre Guacelli & Julia Watt
Marlin Blacks: Arlynn Baer, Sam Barback, Noah Eagle, Brandon Faris, Andrea Ferrell, Katie Golway, Lydia Gracey, Julia Guacelli, Zachary Katz, Aaron Levin, Christina Pick, Gabrielle Pick, Michelle Pick, Claire Serruto, Kaitlin Stearns, Spencer Turkington & Caroline Watt
Wavebuster Teals: Meg Brosnan, Ryan Buckham, Taylor Campolattaro, TJ Dougherty, Hannah Gleason, Ricky LaSalvia, Jessica Lowe*, Marisa Manzi, Isabelle Morreale, Collin Reilly, Taylor Savarese, Lindsay Stearns, Sarah Weinbrom, Nicole Weissman*, Alex Wolfson & Maggie Woodruff
Wavebuster Blacks: Courtney Brosnan, Monica Carty, Brannon Cho, Joshua Choi, Peter Davey,
Spencer Fisch, Katie Gorman, Brandon King, Regan Kology, Emmie Lai*, Robert
Maloney*, Brendon Miller-Radest, Ali Morreale*, Madison Munoz, Chris Plunkett,
Andrea Shepard*, Bethany Stachenfeld, Erica Takahashi, Jennifer Torre &
Michael Wang
Wavebuster Golds: Lindsay Anderson, Victoria D’Altrui, Tad Deatly*, Duncan Hall, Michael Li, Danielle Martinez, Kendall Murray, Maggie Nelson, Nicki Ross, Amanda Scherb & Lexi Tedesco
Senior Preps: Kayla Wolonsky
Seniors: Crissy Condus, Chris Dart, Julianne Furdyna, Austin Meszaros, Brittany Ross, Veronica Smith & Nick Trojanowski
Swimmers
who attend practice greater than 85% have the greatest chance of improving
significantly during the season. These swimmers will also be given 1st
consideration when coaches decide whom will be moved up into the next training
group in February (and in the Wave Blacks, Wave Gold and Senior Prep training
groups, attendance will be the 1st criteria of a swimmer moving up).
Lastly at this year’s “End of the Season” Dinner, the coaches will present an
Attendence Award to each swimmer who attends practice 85% of the time or more
during the entire Winter Session.
SENIORS &
SENIOR PREPS: THIS SPRING & SUMMER: LONGER LONG COURSE!!!!
This spring & summer, the Seniors and Senior Preps will significantly extend their long course training session as Elite has secured the newly renovated (and heated) Summit Municipal Pool from May 15 thru June 17. This will approximately double the amount of training time swimmers will be able to train long course this spring/summer.
Training long course (swimming in a 50 meter pool vs short course, swimming in a 25 yard (NA) or 25 meter (MBS) pool) is a significant competitive advantage. Training long course builds up endurance (the identical workout in long course is more taxing than short course) while simultaneously helping stroke technique (swimmers become longer and more efficient to deal with the more taxing workouts). In addition, all summer competitions are also in the long course venues.
Seniors and Senior Preps will begin training Monday, May 15 at Summit. Each “Summit” weekday practice will be from 5 pm to 7 pm while Saturday mornings will be from 6:00 am to 8:15 am. This additional long course pool time will particularly help the “public school” swimmers who previously could not begin training long course in the morning until late June (season is over in late July/early August). The Elite Seniors and Senior Preps will move to Springfield Municipal Pool on Monday, June 19 and practice will be held at the same time as the past: 6:00 am-8:15 am Monday thru Saturday.
HOW THE END OF THE SEASON “WORKS” AT ELITE:
With the Winter 2005-06 Session rapidly approaching its conclusion, the following is an explanation of how the “End of the Season” concludes at Elite.
Each Elite swimmer will be entered into at least one “End of the Season Championship Meet.” If a swimmer qualifies for 2 (or 3) different levels of championsip meets based upon their times, that swimmer will be entered into all the championship meets they qualify for (with the exception of the Seniors, who will not be entered in Bronze). These meets, as described below, are:
1) 8 & Under Mini-Championships
2) 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championships
3) 11 & Older Bronze Championship
4) 11 & Older Silver Championships &
5) the Junior Olympics.
For all swimmers ages 8 & under, the final meet of the season is the Mini-Championships held Saturday, March 4, to be held at Seton Hall University. At the conclusion of this meet, all swimmers ages 8 & Under are finished (including practice) for the season.
For all swimmers ages 9 & 10, the final meet of the season is the South 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championships, held Saturday, February 25 & Sunday, February 26 to hosted by Elite and held at Newark Academy. At the conclusion of this meet, all swimmers ages 9 & 10 are finished (including practice) for the season. The only exceptions are those swimmers who have qualified for Junior Olympics held Friday, March 17 thru Sunday, March 19.
All swimmers 11 & older will participate in one or more of the following meets: the Bronze Chamionships Saturday, March 4 & Saturday, March 5 (to be held at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City), Silver Championships Saturday, March 11 & Sunday, March 12 (to be held at Rutgers University or the Junior Olympics, held Friday, March 17 thru Sunday, March 19 (to be held at Rutgers University).
Swimmers who qualify for
the next level meet due to their performances (ie. swimmer at Bronze qualifies
for Silvers by reason of their Bronze performance) will be entered by Elite at
the next level meet and will be expected to compete at the next meet. All
swimmers will keep training and performing until they have no longer qualified
for the next level meet.
SWIM SUIT POLICY DURING
CHAMPIONSHIPS:
As each member of Elite knows, wearing the Elite Team Suit during meets is essential. This policy is followed thru out the season with one the very large exception: during championships.
The technology of swim suits has progressed significantly in the last few years. Suits such as Speedo’s Fast Skin II actually repel the water away from the swimmer’s body. These suits have been proven to provide better hydro-dynamics. These suits can not be made in a “team” fabric-they are formulated for speed-not team unity.
Elite’s
team policy regarding suits during championships is the following: a
swimmer may wear a non-Elite “technology advanced” suit during championship
season (ie. Mini-Champs, 9-10 Silver/Bronze, Bronze, Silvers & JO’s). If a swimmer does not purchase such a suit,
they will be expected to wear the Elite Team Suit during championships. This policy
is only for the Championship Season and Elite Swimmers will be expected to wear
their team suits again in competition this summer (until Summer Championship
Season) and again next winter (until Winter Championship Season).
SPRING SESSION: INFO COMING IN
EARLY FEB:
Elite will hold a spring session from Monday, April 3 thru Friday, June 9. Tryouts will be held Tuesday, March 21 from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
By early February, coaches will make their determinations regarding what swimmers will be invited to train in a higher training group starting in the Spring 2006 Session. As a result of these recommendations, letters will be send out by mid February to all current Elite swimmers notifying them of what training group they will be invited to train in this spring.
With the significant change in the training group practice schedule, there will likely be fewer swimmers moved up this spring. That is because all swimmers in the Marlin Blacks, Wave Teals, Wave Blacks and Wave Golds will be offered a significant increase in training time as a direct result of the practice schedule change.
Coaches have been evaluating their swimmers all season long. Swimmers without 70% attendence will not be considered (and 85% at the Senior Prep level). Only swimmers practicing within the fastest training group within each training group will be considered. Stroke mechanics will play a big part of the equation, as will whom the coaches feel can handle additional training based upon current training levels and of course, current swim times.
All
swimmers should be advised that those swimmers who choose not to train with
Elite this spring will be required to tryout for Elite next fall. Roster spots
will only be reserved for those swimmers who practice both during the winter
and in the spring sessions. Age group swimmers who tryout for Elite this spring
will also be required to tryout next fall.
ELITE GEARING FOR 9-10 SILVER/BRONZE CHAMPIONSHIPS; SHARON BROSNAN TO COORDINATE;
ALL 9 & 10 PARENTS EXPECTED
TO HELP; 8 & U PARENTS & SWIMMERS
HELP ALSO REQUESTED:
Elite
will be hosting (at Newark Academy) the South 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championships
this season on Saturday, February 25 & Sunday, February 26. Sharon Brosnan
has volunteered to coordinate organizing the parents in this effort.
This
week, Sharon will be contacting all parents of swimmers competing in this meet.
In order to run this meet at an Elite level, all parents of 9 & 10 year
olds will be expected to volunteer their help on both day. In addition, all
parents of 8 & Unders will be requested to donate water & power
bars/priya bars.
Among
the jobs needed filled will be: timing, admission, marshalling, spectactor
concessions, coaches concession, parking, awards and hallway monitoring. Please
contact Sharon this week at sbrosnan8@comcast.net as to what job you would like to fulfill. If Sharon does not hear from
you, a job will be assigned to you.
Elite
swimmers (when not at an Elite practice) may also volunteer their time in
fulfilling jobs. This volunteer work can be used for community service hours as
Bill will complete all paperwork necessary to document your help.
Parents
are also encouraged to “advertise” in the meet program. Encouraging words from
you to your swimmer are a great inspiration for your champion on their big day.
The advertising contract is posted on the website under forms.
SPRING
SCHEDULE SET: SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN POOL TIME FOR 4 TRAINING GROUPS:
In
keeping with Elite’s efforts to become a more competitive swim program and to provide
its members with the very best product available, Elite has significantly
revised the training schedule for the Spring 2006 Session. This practice
schedule change is also expected to continue thru next the 2006-07 Winter
season.
The new training schedule is the very
definition of efficiency: it provides more practice time for 4 training groups
without reducing the practice time for the remaining 3 groups!!! A copy of the
Spring Schedule is now posted on the website under “About Elite” and “Practice
Schedule.”
With
this change, Elite is formalizing the division within the program between Age
Group swimming (Marlin Teals, Marlin Blacks, Wave Teals, Wave Blacks and Wave
Golds) and Senior Level swimming (Senior Preps and Seniors). During the week, the Age Group training
groups will train at Newark Academy (unless unavailable) while the Senior Level
training groups will train at Morristown-Beard. Both pools will be ulitized
during the weekends.
The
change allows Elite to
offer more practice time and more pool space to the Marlin Blacks, Wave Teals,
Wave Blacks and the Wave Gold training groups without
changing the weekly amount of practice time for the Marlin Teals, Senior Preps
and Seniors. In addition and possibly even more important, all Age Group training groups will
have the entire 6 lanes at each practice for their entire practice. Lastly, Elite will formally limit each Age Group training group to 36
swimmers, thus providing each swimmer with ample space in which to train in
(maximum-6 swimmers to a lane).
More practice time, more
room within practice and an easier practice schedule to remember: that
is Elite thinking!!!!
Due
to the request of several parents, Bill will be available to address any
parental concerns regarding this practice change and how it will impact the
program and Elite Swimmers on Wednesday, February 1 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm at
Newark Academy.
Preparations are underway for the biggest party of the season: Elite’s 11th annual Winter Swim Team Banquet!!! This year’s party will be held Sunday, March 26, 2006 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 4 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!!!
SWIM MEETS ON THE
HORIZON:
Elite’s meet schedule will gather momentum again in January. Upcoming meets include:
1) Saturday, February 4: Dual Meet vs. Clifton B & G Club at Clifton. Meet information is posted.
2)
Saturday, February 4 & Sunday, February 5: Junior State Championships (14
& Under Championships) at Raritan Valley Community College. Meet information
is posted
3) “Last Chance” Meet: Saturday, February 11:
Elite will hold an Intraclub Meet for all Senior Preps, Wave Golds and Wave
Blacks (in a yard pool) to provide an opportunity for these swimmers to qualify
for Silvers & JO’s. Times from this meet will be used as qualifying time
proof. Swimmers need to meet with their coaches to determine what events they
wish to swim (event limit: 3). Meet Events and Entry form are posted on the website under
Meet Schedule. Swimmers need to get their entries to their coaches asap and
before Monday, February 6.
4) Friday, February 17 to Sunday, February 19: Senior State Championships at Seton Hall University Meet information is posted
WORLD CLASS
SWIMMING IN LONG ISLAND THIS WEEKEND:
The World Cup Swimming Competition stops at the Nassau County Aquatics Center Friday, February 4 and Saturday, February 5. It is the 7th of 8 World Cup Meets held this season.
The meet will feature Michael Phelps, Kaitlin Sandeno, Kate Ziegler, last year’s Elite Olympian Neil Walker and Elite’s newest best friend: Tara Kirk. Several local New Jerseyians will also compete.
Preliminaries start at 10 am ($5) and Finals start at 6 pm ($10). More information can be obtained by visiting the Nassau County Aquatic Center website at nassaucountyny.gov (or Goggle Nassau County Aquatic Center!).