ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 02-23-09
AND THEN THERE WERE 3;
P. DUVVURI SCORES 1ST SECTIONAL QUALIFYING TIME TO JOIN
STRAND & MARTIN;
MARTIN ADDS 4TH SWIM, STRAND WINS 100 BACK
BEAMER, P. DUVVURI, V. DUVVURI, FARNOW, FISCH, G. KEISER, MARTIN,
MORREALE, ROSS, STRAND & A. WEINBROM FINAL
Determined
to achieve her first Sectional qualifying time, a focused 15 year old Priya
Duvvuri used her disappointment from the night before (when she missed a
Sectional cut by .75) as motivation to slip under the 100 yard back time by a
mere tenth of a second to become the 2nd female in Elite history to
qualify for Sectionals (competition between the best swimmers in the Northeast
from Maine to Penn). Elite now has three individual Sectional qualifiers
(Michael Strand and Ricky Martin) and will likely also send male relays. All
three will compete at Harvard University in Boston next month.
Upon missing the
100 butterfly qualifying time during Saturday nights finals (despite going
59.96!!), Priya’s first response to her coaches was, “What’s the cut for the
100 back?” When told the time, Priya’s second response was “I can do that!” Her
100 back swim placed her 2nd in finals, while her 100 fly swim was a
4th place finish.
Three heats after
Priya’s swim, Michael Strand overcame earlier disappointing performances to win
the 100 backstroke in 52.37. The swim, complete with his signature underwater
work, brought back Michael’s confidence heading into the final phase of this
season (Sectionals, where he has qualified in 8 events and JO’s). Earlier in
the meet, Michael had placed 3rd in the 100 breast (over the
Sectional qualifying time by .16), 5th in the 50 free (22.64) and 7th
in the 100 free (49.61).
Directly following
Michael’s performance, 17 year old (18 today!) Brittany Ross gave an all out
effort to qualify for Sectionals in the 200 butterfly. Fighting off fatigue and
a cold, Brittany came up short and settled for a 12th place finish.
In the last race
of the meet, 16 year old Ricky Martin snagged his 4th individual
Sectional qualifying time in the 200 butterfly, with a 3rd place
finish of 2.00.89. Earlier, Ricky placed 4th in the 50 free (22.77)
and 6th in the 100 back (just .4 over the Sectional qualifying
time).
16 year old Adam Weinbrom, experiencing his 1st
prelims/finals format meet, finaled in all 6 events he competed within (finals
consisted of 3 heats of 8 swimmers, or top 24 swimmers). Adam’s 12th
and final swim of the weekend produced his best place, a 12th place
finish in the 100 back (57.60).
16 year old Venka
Duvvuri finaled in 4 events: 100 and 200 back and 100 and 200 fly, finishing
highest in the 200 fly (2.11.51).
17 year old
Cassandra Farnow, who will attend Amherst College next fall, finaled in 2
events and placed highest in the 1000 yard free (10th place:
11.34.66).
15 year old
Spencer Fisch flaunted his breaststroke abilities, finishing 14th in
both the 100 (1.06.66) and the 200 (2.26.90) events.
18 year old Jeff
Beamer, new to the club this year, dropped to a 23.24 time in the 50 free to
place 9th (and win the consolation final!).
17 year old Tad
Deatly (in the 1000 free) and 16 year old Chelsea Allocco (in the 500 free)
each placed 16th in non-final events. 16 year old Ali Morreale
placed 19th in the 100 breast (1.12.92) while 15 year old Greg
Keiser placed 21st in the 100 fly (58.20).
Swimmers who
participated (# in parenthesis is number of best Elite SCY best times): Chelsea
Allocco (1), Jeff Beamer (5), John Burns, Tad Deatly, Sam Duren, Priya Duvvuri
(5), Venka Duvvuri, Cassandra Farnow (1), Spencer Fisch (4), Breana
Fitzpatrick, Amanda Grywalski (1), Duncan Hall (1), Gregory Keiser (2), Brandon
King (2), Matt King, Emmie Lai, Ricky Martin (3), Ali Morreale, Maggie Nelson,
Silas Newcomb, Brittany Ross, Michael Strand (4), Erica Takahashi & Adam
Weinbrom (2).
MAGICAL EXPERIENCE WITH NEW ELITE FRIEND MARK GANGLOFF, LOVE,
STREAMLINE AND FUN STRESSED AT OLYMPIAN CLINIC:
74 extremely lucky swimmers (and dozens of parents) spent 4 hours spellbound with two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Mark Gangloff yesterday at Morristown-Beard School. The Olympian Clinic was coordinated and underwritten by the Elite Swim Club Parents Organization (ESCPO).
Mark, who participated in both the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics, gold medaled in both as a member of the 4 x 100 Medley Relay (participating with such superstars as Michael Phelps, Aaron Piersol and Jason Lezak). Mark also was an individual qualifier in both Olympics (placing 4th in Athens and 8th in Beijing in the 100 meter breaststroke).
Prounouncing the two most important things in life were 1) knowing that you are loved by your family and friends and 2) streamlining off your walls, Mark thoroughly entertained our Elite swimmers with his Olympic memories. Mark enjoyed mealtime in the Olympic Village, where he often was sandwiched between 7 foot basketball players and 4 foot gymnasts.
Mark grew up in upstate New York and Ohio, before attending Auburn University where he was coached by swimming legend David Marsh. Gangloff continues to train with Marsh out of the Mecklenberg Aquatics Club in North Carolina.
In addition to giving stroke technique pointers and drills to reinforce the technique, Mark raced each swimmer in a 25 meter competition. Several Elite swimmers were able to run down Mark!!
Special thanks to Sandi Niccolai, president of ESCPO, who coordinated this affair on behalf of the Elite swimmers!! Thanks Sandi!!
“SMALL” TEAM THIS SPRING AS ONLY 134 ARE REGISTERED; TRYOUTS WILL
FILL AVAILABLE SPOTS:
Two weeks ago, 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 were 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).
The list of
swimmers who have acknowledged they are returning is posted at the following
link: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Tryouts
2/Swimmers Registered for Spring 2009.htm. If
you are not listed on this list, your roster spot has been relinquished.
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.
68 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:
30 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!!!