ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 02-16-09
6 SWIMMERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ONE LAST CHANCE:
BUCKMAN, P. HONG (2), HUANG, G. PICK, D. MURO & A. SHEPARD
ADD JO SWIMS;
6
Elite swimmers took advantage of Elite’s Last Chance Meet last Saturday at
Newark Academy to achieve 7 additional Junior Olympic qualifying times. Team
totals are now 48 swimmers in 296 events (already highest totals in Elite
history).
The
name of the meet is a misnomer, as swimmers can qualify for JO’s at their
Silver Bronze Championship Meets. This meet is a tradition at Elite, providing
another opportunity for swimmers to compete and make qualifying times. The Age
Group program comes together and competes in an intra-squad format. Also unique
about this meet is that the swimmers choose their events to swim.
10
year old Patrick Hong, who has hovered around Junior Olympic cuts all season,
added two swims by dropping almost 7 seconds in the 200 IM (2.57.68) and 1
second in the 50 fly (37.14).
10
year old Emily Buckman posted her 1st career Junior Olympic
qualifying time, by dropping 1.7 seconds in the 100 backstroke (1.21.53).
12
year old Gabrielle Pick established her 1st Junior Olympic time this
season, smashing thru the 50 fly (31.30) cut by almost a full second. 12 year
old Andrea Shepard, who had 17 other JO qualifying times coming into the meet,
nabbed her last one in the 200 fly (2.35.59) in her 1st attempt at
the event ever (she may find herself in this event again!).
Backstrokers
9 year old Andrew Huang and 14 year old Daniel Muro, each scored their 2nd
JO qualifying time this season. Huang added the 50 back (38.36) to his resume
while Muro added the 100 back (1.04.23).
Also
of note: the following 18 swimmers were 3 for 3 in best times: Elizabeth
D’Altrui, Amy Duren, Katie Fell, Katherine Friday, Alexandra Gordon, Julia
Guacelli, Emma Harris, Zach Katz, Jared Kovacs, Jessica Kraus, Patrick Lai,
Isabel LaRaia, Brandon Li, Sarah Lowe, Charlotte Morrissey, Stephanie Roser,
Jonas Singer & Caroline Watt.
Swimmers who
participated (# in parenthesis is number of best Elite SCY best times): Jenni
Allocco, Chris Balbo (2), Lindsay Behar (1), Mark Berns (2), Abbie Bigham (2),
Ethan Blum (2), Nicole Blum (1), Annie Botte, Katie Brosnan (1), Emily Buckman
(2), Thomas Burke (1), Eloise Burn (1), John Burns (2), Meggie Butler (1),
Morgan Conley (2), Jimmy Coyne (2), Matt Critchley (1), Elizabeth D’Altrui (3),
Drew D’Andrea (2), Alli Dorneo, Ryan Dorneo (2), Amy Duren (3), Sam Duren (2),
Avi Duvvuri (2), Krishna Duvvuri (1), Katie Fell (3), Juliet Felsen (1), Andrea
Ferrell (2), Katherine Friday (3), Andrea Galea, Clio Galea (2), Ariel Gelman (1),
Patrick Gilfillan (2), Emily Goad, Alexandra Gordon (3), Dominique Gordon (2),
Emily Gorham (2), Jess Gorham, Lydia Gracey (2), Kevin Greener (2), Andre
Guacelli, Julia Guacelli (3), Emma Harris (3), Scott Harris (2), Alyssa
Hartigan (1), Matt Hong (1), Patrick Hong (2), Rachel Hong (2), Elana Horowitz,
Andrew Huang (2), Zach Katz (3), Rachel Keselman (1), Regan Kology (1), Jared
Kovacs (3), Jessica Kraus (3), Patrick Lai (3), Clark LaRaia (1), Isabel LaRaia
(3), Brandon Li (3), Jessie Lowe (2), Sarah Lowe (3), Katie McGrath (1), Karl
Melchior (1),Matt Migliozzi (2), Kara Miller-Radest (1), Isabella Morreale,
Andrew Morrison (2), Charlotte Morrissey (3), Dan Muro (1), Julia Muro (1),
Caroline Nash, Alexandra N’Diaye, Greg Niccolai (1), Rebecca Niccolai (2), Eric
Ocheretyaner (2), Dara O’Gorman, Nick Pachiolo (2), Christina Pick (1),
Gabrielle Pick (1), Michelle Pick (1), Mikala Quinn (2), Camile Relota (2),
Chris Roser (2), Stephanie Roser (3), Monica Samtani, Sonia Samtani, Taylor
Savarese (1), Ryan Sebastian (1), Andrea Shepard (2), Katy Shepard (1), Abigail
Shvorin (2), Jonas Singer (3), Jessica Solodkin (2), Kaitlin Stearns, Lindsay
Stearns, Michael Tortorella (1), Rachael Tortorellla (1), Katie Tselepis (1),
Caroline Watt (3), Adam Weinbrom (1), Sarah Weinbrom (2) & Richard Yu
(1).
ATTENDANCE THRU MID-FEB TILL STRONG; 2 OF 7 TRAINING
GROUPS AVERAGING OVER 83%; ALL GROUPS OVER 73%, SENIORS LEAD WAY WITH 83.8%!!! ATHLETES
RECOGNIZED:
Practice attendance is the foundation of improvement. Great attendance (and thus, great work habits and a great aerobic base) is the way to faster swimming. Thru mid February, 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 Seniors have taken the lead from the Wavebuster Teals as the training group that leads the outstanding Elite attendance race by averaging, as a training group, 83.85% attendance!!! The Wave Teals follow the Seniors (83.335%) followed by the Marlin Blacks (78.04%), the Wave Blacks (77.96%), the Senior Preps (76.%), the Marlin Teals (74.77%) & Wave Golds (72.49%).
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*, Katy Shepard & Abigail Shvorin
Wavebuster Teals: Brielle Barba, Abbie Bigham, Katie Brosnan, Emily Buckman*, Meggie Butler, Morgan Conley, Jimmy Coyne, Elizabeth D’Altrui, Amy Duren, Katie Fell*, Andrea Ferrell*, Katherine Friday, Emily Goad, Emily Gorham, Patrick Hong*, Andrew Huang, Rachel Keselman, Jared Kovacs, Sarah Lowe, Charlotte Morrissey*, Mikala Quinn, Camile Relota, Abir Thakur & Michael Tortorella
Wavebuster Blacks: Chris Balbo*, Lindsay Behar, Andrea Galea, Jess Gorham, Alyssa Hartigan, Karl Melchior, Isabella Morreale, Caroline Nash, Taylor Savarese, Jonas Singer, Rachael Tortorella & Caroline Watt
Wavebuster Golds: Matt Ahlmeyer, Alli Dorneo, Matt Hong, Regan Kology*, Katie McGrath, Kara Miller-Radest*, Ryan Sebastian*, Kaitlin Stearns, Lindsay Stearns, Sarah Weinbrom
Senior Preps: Brendan Miller-Radest, Ryan Wyer
Seniors: Lindsay Anderson, Michael Li, Ali Morreale* & Michael Strand*
HANG OUT WITH OLYMPIAN MARK GANGLOFF THIS SUNDAY!!
Lucky Elite swimmers hang out with 2008 Olympian Mark Gangloff this Sunday, February 22 at Morristown-Beard School!!
Organized and coordinated by the Elite Swim Club Parents Organization, Elite will hold a 1 day seminar 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.
This annual event is one of the true highlights of the season. Swimmers get to ask the Olympian questions, hear about their trials and tribulations, see that these people are in fact real people who set a goal for themselves and then accomplished it. Autographs, pictures and snacks will be available.
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).
SWIMMERS PLANNING ON TRAINING WITH ELITE THIS SPRING REQUESTED TO
TURN IN “RETURNING SHEETS”:
DUE FEB 20: 66 ALREADY REGISTERED;
Last week, each Elite swimmer (with the exception of graduating Seniors in high school) received an information letter regarding the training group they are invited to train with this coming Spring/Summer 2009 training season.
Within the letter was a “returning” sheet, which provides the swimmer with the ability to announce they are planning on returning to Elite. These sheets are due Feb 20 (note: in the packet, the due date was originally Feb 15, but circumstances-read snow storm- held back the mailing one week). Please get these sheets in asap.
If Bill does not receive this sheet (or worse case, an email), the assumption will be made that the swimmer is NOT returning and a roster spot will be opened up for those trying out. If a swimmer does not turn in a sheet but later decides they do want to return, that swimmer will need to attend tryouts on March 24 at Newark Academy. There is no guarantee a spot will be available for such a swimmer. 66 Swimmers who have already registered for Spring 2009 as of Feb 15th are listed at the following link: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Tryouts 2/Swimmers Registered for Spring 2009.htm
Please note that Elite is already receiving inquiries from swimmers outside the club regarding Elite’s Spring/Summer program. And note that since Elite limits the size of each training group to insure the best possible environment for improvement by each of its swimmer, a roster spot on Elite is becoming a valuable commodity.
Seniors in
high school are welcome to continue to train with Elite thru the summer. Each
senior should see Bill or Ashley regarding their plans.
ZONE APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE; THOSE WILL REASONABLE CHANCE ASKED TO PRE-REGISTER;
New Jersey Swimming has made available the Spring 2009 SCY Zone Application for this April’s 2009 Eastern Zone Course Age Group Championships to be held April 2nd thru April 4th in Rochester, NY. “Zone” teams in the spring are LSC All-Star Teams (NJ Swimming is an LSC) comprising the fastest 2 swimmers in each event (whom apply).
To reduce the crunch of processing all the applications after Junior Olympics (with a deadline looming), NJ Swimming is asking those swimmers who have a reasonable chance of making Zones to apply early so that data on these swimmers can be processed ahead of JO’s. If your swimmer has a reasonable shot at qualifying for the Zone squad, it is requested of you to send the application into NJ Swimming at this time (use best times from meets not listed on the application form; one can update their information at JO’s).
For you
convenience, attached is the Zone Application.
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 the slide show at the Elite Awards Dinner.
At the Awards Dinner, there is a slide show presentation. 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!!!
NO LZRs FOR 12 & UNDERS; MAY BE A WORLD
TREND: DOUBLE SUITING ALSO EXPECTED TO BE ELIMINATED:
FASTSKINS ARE OK FOR ELITE SWIMMERS AT SILVER/BRONZE &
JUNIOR OLYMPICS:
A reminder: at the
USA 29th annual USAS (United States Aquatics) Convention held
September 2008, USA Swimming voted to restrict the use of “high tech” swim
suits (LZRs, Blue Sevens, etc) for those swimmers participating in 12 &
Under Age Group competition. The idea is to keep the playing field level for 12
& Unders during their formative years of competition. Although the
restriction has significant cost issues tied to it, the rule actually reads:
“Swimsuits worn for all 12 & Under age group defined competition shall not
cover the neck, extend past the shoulder nor past the knee.” Swimmers who are
12 or younger who are participating in “open” events will be allowed to wear
suits that cover more area than allowed by this rule. Although this rule does
not commence until May 15, 2009, Elite will follow the spirit of the rule immediately
(including March 2009 championships). No Speedo LZRs
for Elite Swimmers 12 & Under!!!
Interestingly, USA
Swimming has presented the identical wording of this new restriction to FINA,
which is the governance body for international swimming, for consideration with
the 12 & Under restriction language removed. If adopted, all international
competition will restrict these technologically advanced suits as currently
constructed from use in competition. If adopted by FINA, it is expected that
USA Swimming will follow suit and restrict these suits from being worn at all
USA Swimming competitions.
USA Swimming is
exploring “exemption language” based upon religious or medical needs. However,
the “more coverage” suit to be worn will not be of the technologically advanced
nature under these circumstances.
Also under consideration by FINA is a restriction of the “double or triple” suiting which was present at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Many swimmers, particularly females, wore 2 or even 3 technologically advanced suits during competition in an attempt to reduce drag and/or help with buoyancy. This practice is also expected to be outlawed at the international level. If so, USA Swimmers can expect USA Swimming to follow suit and outlaw the practice.
Speedo Fastskins are acceptable suits
for Elite Swimmers to wear. Elite Swimmers are allowed to wear fastskins at
Silver/Bronze Championships and at Junior Olympics. If a swimmer is close to a
Sectional level qualifying time in an event, they may be allowed to wear
fastskins prior to end of the season Championship Meets.
30 HAVE RSVP’ED; LIST ON WEBSITE:
Preparations are underway for the biggest party of the season: Elite’s 14th annual Winter Swim Team Banquet!!! This year’s party will be held Saturday, March 28, 200 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 7 Elite banquets have had an excess of 300 people each!!! 30 have already RSVP’ed. The RSVP list is on the website: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Awards Dinner/RSVP%27S FOR - AWARDS BANQUET 2009.htm
To reserve your dinner reservations, please print out an reservation form from the website (under Awards Dinner), fill it out and mail the form with the appropriate check amount to Bill Deatly, 32 Prospect Street, Summit, New Jersey 07901. Cost per person is $55. All 12 & Under Swimmers must have at least 1 adult accompanying them.
Parents, Bill will do his best to honor your seating arrangement requests. Swimmers will be seated by Bill!!
Reservation forms must be in by Thursday, March 12, 2009.
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.
PARENTS GEARING UP FOR 9-10 SILVER BRONZE & 13 &
OLDER 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 the 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championship 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.
All parents
of swimmer 13 years of age and older are expected to work this meet. Debbie Scherb, 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.
Quick question for you, am I coordinating volunteers for any other meet but the 13 and older champs? I want to put together a note for your weekly newsletter soon, in the hopes of getting all the volunteer settled early this year. I have your meet coordinators for 13 and older: Jennifer Tortorella for 13-14 girls, Mary Ann Keiser for 15 and older girls and me for the boys. I will contact Brandy to work out the rest of the details.
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!!
REMINDER:
SCHOLAR/ATHLETE AWARDS WILL BE HIGHLIGHT OF AWARDS BANQUET:
11 HAVE ALREADY
APPLIED FOR AWARD; LIST ON WEBSITE;
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 (Saturday, March 28, 2009) 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.
11 Elite
Swimmers have already applied for the award. The list is now posted on the
website: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Awards
Dinner/List of Scholar Athlete Award Applicants 2009.htm
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. IF A SWIMMER’S 2ND MARKING PERIOD ENDS AFTER MARCH
18, PLEASE PROVIDE BILL WITH THE MOST RECENT REPORT CARD AVAILABLE.
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!!!