ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 02-05-07
Revised 02-06-07
DYNAMIC
WEEKEND OF SWIMMING; ELITE SWIMMERS SHINE AT 3 DIFFERENT VENUES:
With the unexpected late addition to the meet schedule of the New Jersey Senior B State Championships, Elite swimmers competed at 3 separate meets this weekend. The results were incredible!!!!
STRAND WINS 200 BACK AT JUNIOR STATES,
BOYS WIN BOTH RELAYS IN MEET RECORD TIMES!!!; MARTIN, HALL,
MORREALE & TWO DUVVURIS ALSO FINAL!!!
In gearing up for championships next month, Elite’s best juniors (defined as 14 & Under) put on a dazzling display of swimming this weekend at New Jersey Swimming’s Junior Championships held at Raritan Valley Community College. And although the Elite girls swam well (and cheered really loud!!!), this weekend clearly belonged to Elite’s 4 top junior boys: Michael Strand, Ricky Martin, Duncan Hall and Venkatesh Duvvuri.
This foursome joined together twice to win the 200 yard Medley and the 200 yard Free Relays, each the last event of each finals! On Saturday night, Strand (back), Martin (beast), Duvvuri (fly) and Hall (free) won the Medley relay by setting the meet record with a 1.47.48 time, shattering the meet record by 7 seconds. On Sunday, the boys lead (with Martin’s 23.21 opening split time) from start to finish, crushing the field by two seconds in their second meet record time of 1.36.19.
In a race that will remain for a long time in the memory of those Elite swimmers and parents present, Michael Strand out swam Westfield Y’s Matt Meserole in the 200 yard backstroke, touching first in a meet record time of 2.00.54. Both boys broke away from the field early in the race, with Strand’s superior underwater swimming (tight streamline with fast, compact fly kicks) proving the difference over the grueling race. Strand’s time is slightly more than 1 second over a Sectional qualifying time (Michael just turned 14 in December).
Strand added a 2nd place finish in the 400 yard IM in a 4.25.94 time, dropping 6 seconds from (last months!) personal best time. Michael also finaled in the 100 back (57.29) and the 200 IM (1.08.48) and won the consolation finals in the 100 breast (1.08.05) in placing 7th.
Ricky Martin nearly matched Strand’s performance by placing 2nd twice (50 Free-23.21 and 100 fly-56.26), 5th (100 back-58.80) and 10th (100 breast (1.09.47). In 8 swims, Ricky had 7 personal bests (and only missing the one by .01 of a second!).
In the last individual event of Sunday night finals, Venkatesh Duvvuri stroked to a 2nd place finish in the 200 butterfly, finishing with a 2.09.01 time. Duvvuri had previously placed 3rd in the 100 fly (57.54), right behind Martin.
Duncan Hall, finally healthy from upper back and shoulder muscle issues, destroyed the notion he is only a 50 free sprinter by dropping 7 seconds in the 200 back (2.12.49) in placing 5th . Duncan enjoyed finaling so much he was back at it again on Sunday in his beloved 50 free (24.58). Duncan also placed 12 n the consolation finals in the 100 back (1.01.64).
Ali Morreale and Priya Duvvuri made sure the Elite girls were heard from, as both qualified for consolation finals on Sunday. Morreale stroked to an 8th place finish in the 200 breast (2.39.58) while Duvvuri placed 11th in the 100 back (1.05.82). Morreale’s 16th place finish in the 100 breast (1.15.57) was a Junior Olympic qualifying time.
Swimmers who participated (# in parathesis is number of best SCY best times): Lindsay Anderson (1), John Burns (1), Victoria D’Altrui (3), Carolyn DeMeo, Priya Duvvuri (2), Venkatesh Duvvuri (2), Spencer Fisch (1), Breana Fitzpatrick (1), Michelle Franks (1), Duncan Hall (8), Brent Jones (1), Gregory Keiser (2), Victoria Keiser (1), Brandon King (1), Emmie Lai (2), Michael Li (1), Danielle Martinez (1), Ricky Martin (7), Ali Morreale (1), Maggie Nelson (3), Nicki Ross, Michael Strand (8) & Erica Takahashi (1).
JONES, PEAY, CUPKA WIN EVENTS AT
SENIOR B STATES!!!
Meanwhile at the Senior B State Championship Meet, Kim Jones, Sarah Peay and Kat Cupka all won events.
Jones, who had 9 personal best swims (out of 10 swims) finished 1st in 4 of the 6 events that she competed in!!! Kim started her winning ways by dropping 7.6 seconds in her Friday night 400 yard IM timed final. On Saturday, Kim added to her medal haul by winning the 200 yard IM (2.25.66) and placing 2nd in the 50 yard free (27.32). Kim touched first on Sunday in the 200 yard free (2.08.42) and the 200 yard Fly (2.23.42) while adding a 2nd place in the 100 yard free (58.98).
Peay won both the 100 yard (1.08.01) and the 200 yard (2.25.13) backstroke events. Sarah also placed 2nd in the 400 yard IM, 3rd in the 200 yard butterfly and 4th in the 100 butterfly.
Cupka sprinted to 1st place in the 50 free in a 26.85 time.
Also placing in the top three were: 1) Amanda Scherb placed 2nd in two events, the 200 breast and the 100 back while also adding a pair of 3rd place finishes (100 breast and 200 back) 2) Kirsten Kellstrom, placed 2nd in the 1000 yard free 3) Katie Ragan placed 3rd in the 1000 free 4) Tad Deatly placed 3rd in the 200 back 5) Kayla Wolonsky finished 3rd in the 100 back .
Swimmers who participated (# in parathesis is number of best SCY best times): Kat Cupka (2), Tad Deatly, Kim Jones (9), Kirsten Kellstrom (1), Morgan Kiley, Robert Maloney (6), Kendall Murray (2), Sarah Peay (5), Katie Ragan (2), Amanda Scherb (2) and Kayla Wolonsky (1).
GORMAN, FELSEN, STEARNS SWIM JUNIOR
OLYMPIC TIMES AT CLIFTON:
At the third swimming meet Elite swimmers participated at over the weekend, Katie Gorman, Juliet Felson and Lindsay Stearns took advantage of the opportunity and swam Junior Olympic qualifying times.
Gorman added two JO times to her schedule when she won the Girls 10-11 50 yard free (28.60) and the Girls 10-11 50 yard fly (31.59).
Stearns, who ages up this month into the 11-12 age group, added a 2nd Junior Olympic qualifying time in her new age group by placing just behind Gorman in the Girls 10-11 50 yard fly (32.09).
Felson, who has been flirting with the butterfly JO cut time for several months, surprised herself by accomplishing the feat in the 50 yard breaststroke event.
8 year old Kaitlin Stearns won the Girls 8-9 50 yard back event (39.54) while 11 year old Courtney Brosnan won the Girls 10-11 50 yard back event (34.39). 6 year old Megan Balbo placed 1st in the Girls 7 & U 25 yard breast event (37.16) while 11 year old Isabella Morreale won the Girls 10-11 50 yard breast (40.99). 8 year old Sarah Kleppe won the Girls 8-9 50 yard fly (50.69).
Swimmers who participated (# in parathesis is number of best SCY best times): Arlynn Baer (2), Chris Balbo (2), Megan Balbo (2), Eric Binder (2), Nicole Blum (1), Courtney Brosnan (2), Keegan Brown (2), Alexa Burkard (1), John Burkard (2), Taylor Campolattaro (1), Monica Carty, Brannon Cho (2), Jonny Crowther (2), Laura Culiuc (1), Elizabeth D’Altrui (2), Sam Duren, Helena Elston (2), Brandon Faris, Madeleine Faust (2), Kristen Fedor (2), Juliet Felson (1), Emilie Ferguson (2), Andrea Ferrell (2), Erika Fresen (2), Hannah Gleason, Joe Gleason (2), Emily Goad (2), Katie Golway (2), Katie Gorman (2), Lydia Gracey (2), Rachel Greene (2), Payton Hakes (1), Alyssa Hartigan (1), Sarah Kleppe (2), Regan Kology (2), Jared Kovacs (2), Patrick Lai (1), Clark LaRaia (2), Isabel LaRaia (2), Ricky LaSalvia (1), Aaron Levin, Brandon Li (1), Jessie Lowe, Megan McEvoy (2), Katie McGrath (2), Sarah McGrath (1), Matt Migliozzi (2), Brendan Miller-Radest (1), Colin Miller-Radest (2), Kara Miller-Radest (2), Isabella Morreale (2), Cesar Munoz (2), Julia Muro (1), Gregory Niccolai (2), Dara O’Gorman (2), Evan O’Hara (1), Nick Pachiolo (2), Christina Pick (1), Gabrielle Pick (1), Michelle Pick (2), Taylor Savarese (2), RJ Serruto, Andrea Shepard, Bethany Stachenfeld, Kaitlin Stearns (1), Lindsay Stearns (1), Spencer Todd (1), Sydney Todd (1), Rachel Tortorella (2), Andrea Tyminski (2), Michael Wang (1), Caroline Watt (1), Sarah Weinbrom (2), Maggie Woodruff (2) & Harry Woods (2)
“OPEN” WEEKEND (SATURDAY, FEB 10) NOW HAS TWO MEETS:
As the Winter 2006-07 season races towards Championships, Elite had originally planned a regular practice on Saturday, February 10. However, due to the vast improvement of its swimmers Elite has altered its schedule to provide one last opportunity for swimmers to get cut times prior to championships. Thus, on Saturday, February 10, Elite Age Groupers will participate in two meets:
“Last
Chance Intraclub Meet”:
Swimmers 9 & Older in the Marlin and Wavebuster Training Groups will participate in an intraclub meet at Newark Academy (yard pool) in events of their choosing. Event information was handed out last week at practice. Swimmers need to return their entries to their training coach by this Friday, February 2. Event information is on the website under Meet Schedule
“SHY
8 & Under Distance Invitational”
Elite 8 & Under swimmers were invited (yesterday) to attend a “distance” meet at the Somerset Hills YMCA (Mt.Airy Road, Basking Ridge) on Saturday, February 10. Swimmers who would like to chose their events should hand in their Last Chance events and coaches will tailor their requests to the SHY event format as best they can.
Meet information regarding both meets will be posted on the website shortly.
MEMORY BOOK TRAINING GROUP PHOTOS AFTER PRACTICE: SUNDAY, FEB 11;
WEAR TEAM SUIT;
In
preparation for the 2006-07 Memory Book, photographers will be on hand to take
pictures of training groups AFTER practice on Sunday, February 11. Swimmers should were their team suits
to practice!!!
ESPO
NEWS:
Calling all
"Scrapbooking Masters" - Join the memory book committee! We are looking for volunteers to help with
the 2006-2007 season memory book. Jobs available are:
Photo Layout Cover Other contents Ads/Sponsors Logistics - copying/binding
If you are interested, please email Laura McEvoy at GOOFYMCJR@AOL.COM. A meeting is tentatively scheduled for Monday, Feb 5 at 5:45 pm at Newark Academy.
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.
Adverstisments for Journal!!!
HOW THE END OF THE SEASON “WORKS” AT ELITE:
With the Winter 2006-07 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.” A swimmer will be entered into ALL championship meets they qualify for. If a swimmer qualifies for 2 different levels of championship meets based upon their times, they will be entered in each meet. These meets, as described below, are:
1) 8 & Under Mini-Championships
2) 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championships
3) 11-12 Silver/Bronze Championship
4) 13 & Older Silver/Bronze Championships &
5) the Junior Olympics.
For all swimmers ages 8 & under, the final meet of the season is the Mini-Championships held Saturday, March 3, 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 (with the exception of an 8 & Under who makes a Junior Olympic Qualifying Time).
For all swimmers ages 9 & 10, the final meet of the season is the South 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championships, held Saturday, February 24 & Sunday, February 25 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 16 thru Sunday, March 18.
All swimmers 11 & older will participate in one or more of the following meets: the 11-12 Silver/Bronze Chamionships Saturday, March 3 & Saturday, March 4 (to be held at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City), the 13 & Older Silver/Bronze Championships Saturday, March 10 & Sunday, March 11 (to be held at Rutgers University) and/or the Junior Olympics, held Friday, March 16 thru Sunday, March 18 (to be held at Rutgers University).
Swimmers
who qualify for the Junior Olympics via their performances at the Silver/Bronze
Meets will be entered by Elite into JO’s and all swimmers will keep training
and performing until they have concluded their championship performances. Once
a swimmer has concluded their championship performances, their practice season
has concluded. Only swimmers who still have championship swims are invited to
practice.
ELITE SHRINKING: ONLY 96
SWIMMERS HAVE TURNED IN SPRING 2007 COMMITMENT FORMS; GET YOUR FORMS IN!!!
Information regarding the Spring 2007 Session was mailed to each Elite swimmer two weeks ago. As of today, only 96 swimmers (out of 164) have responded by handing in their forms.
In order to insure a swimmer’s roster spot for the Spring 2007 Session, each swimmer must bring in their Spring 2007 Intention Form (included in the mailing) by February 15. A list of roster spots is now posted on the website under Tryout 2007/Elite Swimmers Committed to Spring 2007 Session (Elite Swim Club). If a swimmer does not hand in a Intention Form, the coaches will assume the swimmer does not intend to train with Elite during the Spring (and will use that roster spot, if possible, as a result of Spring Tryouts). Any current Elite swimmer who does not hand a form by February 15 but who wants to swim for Elite will be required to tryout in March. There will be no guarantees as to a roster spot for current Elite swimmers in this situation.
All swimmers who train with Elite during the Spring 2007 (and trained with Elite in the Winter 2006-07 Session) will automatically have a roster spot saved for them (assuming the deposit is received prior to the deadline) for the Winter 2007-08 Season. All swimmers who chose not to train with Elite during the Spring 2007 Session will need to tryout this summer to regain a roster spot. There will be no guarantees that a roster spot will be available for such swimmers.
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.
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!!!
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!!!