ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 03-01-10
FOLLOWING
BLIZZARD OF SNOW, ELITE CREATES OWN BLIZZARD OF FABULOUS PERFORMANCES AT 9-10
SILVER BRONZE!!
FRIDAY, HUANG, NG (2), K.
SHEPARD, V. XIA,
C. XU, G. XU (2), WIN 9 SILVER EVENTS!!
M. BALBO, R. CARCHIA, A. FRESEN, K. SHEPARD, M.
TORTORELLA, C. XU WIN 6 BRONZE EVENTS;
FRIDAY, HUANG (2), KIM, LI, NG, SHEPARD (2), SORIANO (2), M. TORTORELLA
(2), TSAY, XIA (2), C XU, & G. XU (4) ADD 20 JUNIOR OLYMIC QUALIFYING
TIMES:
Remarkable performances by virtually every Elite 9-10 Silver Bronze Swimmer
(held at Newark Academy and hosted by Elite) produced the following results: 9
individual Silver event victories (out of 46 individual events-nearly 1 every 5
events!!), 6 individual Bronze event victories (out of 46) & 20 new Junior
Olympic qualifying times that push the team JO totals to 53 individual qualifiers
in 281 events.
The 9-10 Silver Bronze Championships
is the 1st of 7 meets that define the 2009-10 Winter
Championship Season for Elite.
In understanding the divisions and
awards, please remember that there were really two meets being held this
weekend simultaneously: a Silver level meet and a Bronze level meet. In
addition, each age group was broken up into the specific ages 9 and 10. Thus,
the swimmers were divided by sex, specific age and by Silver and Bronze entry
times. Winners in each level were determined by their entry time. To prevent an
unprincipled coach from entering a high level swimmer with a bronze entry time,
swimmers with Bronze entry times are ineligible to win events and receive
medals for performing “gold” level performances (but the time is legal and can
be used to enter Junior Olympics). Lastly, this meet represented only half of
the swimmers in New Jersey Swimming, as this meet was the “South” meet; an
equally competitive meet was held simultaneously this past weekend at Bergen
Community College in Paramus.
Elite was led by 9 year old Grace Xu, who won 2 Silver events and added 4 Junior Olympic
times, which doubled her total to 8 events! Grace placed in the top 5 in each
of her 6 events, won the 9 year old Girls 100 IM (1.19.99) & the 50 Breast
(42.20) in JO qualifying time, placed 2nd in the 50 fly (36.49-also
gold) and 3rd in the 50 free (31.66-just behind teammate Claire Xu). Grace was 4th in the 50 back (39.37) and 5th
in the 100 back (1.25.37).
Following closely behind her
namesake (Grace & Claire are not related) was Claire Xu.
Claire won the Silver level 100 breast in a Silver time of 1.35.98 and won the
Bronze level 100 butterfly in a Silver time of 1.38.38. Claire placed 2nd
in the Silver level 50 free in a JO qualifying time of 31.52. Claire also
placed 2nd in the Silver level 200 free (2.41.87) and 2nd
in the Silver level 100 free (1.11.91). In Claire’s 6th event, she
placed 3rd in the Silver level of the 100 IM (1.21.50).
10 year old Katy Shepard was dynamite in her
freestyle events; Katy won the Silver the Silver 100 free event in her 1st
career JO qualifying time of 1.09.81 and followed up with winning the Bronze
level 500 free (7.17.95). Katy also went gold with her 3rd place
Silver level swim in the 200 free (2.39.76).
10 year old Evan Ng also had a
superb weekend, winning the Silver level 200 IM a JO time of 2.57.05. Evan also
won the Silver division in the 100 IM (1.22.25-just over the JO qualifying
time). Evan placed 4th in the 100 fly (1.32.37) and 5th
twice: 50 back (39.09) and 100 back (1.23.72). Evan now has 4 JO qualifying
times.
9 year old Vivian Xia was also on
fire this weekend; Vivian won the Silver level 100 back (1.20.12) and followed
up with a 2nd place finish in the 200 IM (2.59.59), both which were
JO qualifying times (Vivian now has 5 JO cuts).
10 year old Katherine Friday,
frustrated by just missing a JO qualifying time in her 3rd place 100
IM finish of 1.22.23, blew away the pack in her 50 butterfly swim, winning by
.7 over her next closest rival and earned her 4th JO qualifying
time.
10 year old Andrew Huang won the
Silver Division of the 50 butterfly (34.76) with his 3.6 second drop. Andrew
also placed 2nd in the 50 breast (in a JO time of 43.10), 5th
in the 100 IM (1.23.01) and 6th in the 100 free (1.12.76).
Adding his 9th & 10th
JO qualifying times to his collection was 10 year old Michael Tortorella. Michael placed 1st in the Bronze
level 100 butterfly (1.38.92) and 2nd in the 50 back (38.16-just .2
over the JO cut) while qualifying for JO’s with his 4th place 50
butterfly time of 37.45. Michael also pulled off the rare feat of qualifying
for JO’s when seeded in the Bronze level in his 100 back (1.22.39). Swimmers
seeded in Bronze are not placed (in order to dissuade slow seed times to help
medal winning chances).
10 year old Gian
Soriano nabbed a pair of JO qualifying times in placing 3rd in the
100 breast (1.37.03) and 4th in the 500 free (6.52.23), also pushing
his JO total to 10. Gian also placed 3rd in
the 50 back (38.30-just off the JO cut) and 5th in the 50 breast
(45.42).
10 year old Audrey Kim earned her 1st
career JO qualifying by placing 7th in the Silver Division of the
100 back (1.21.81). 10 year old Abigail Tsay stroked
to a JO qualifying time in the 100 breast with her 3rd place finish
(1.33.24).
10 year old Brandon Li slipped under
both the 3 minute mark and the JO qualifying time in his second place Silver
Division 2.59.33 200 IM performance. Brandon now has 3
JO events. Brandon also placed 5th in the 50 back with a 39.09.
Emerging from the Bronze Pack were 3
Elite swimmers. 9 year old Megan Balbo dropped 44 seconds to win the 500 free in a 7:26.55 time. Balbo also placed 2nd in the
200 IM with her 3.12.73 effort.
10 year old Richie Carchia,
who despite never competing in the event but insisted on being entered into the
500 free, came away with the Bronze level gold medal with his 7.54.46 swim.
9 year old Andy Fresen
finished off a successful weekend by winning the Bronze level 50 free in 35.70.
Earlier in the meet, Andy placed 5th in both the 50 back (41.66) and
the 50 fly (43.09) and 6th in both 100 free (1.26.07) and the 100
back (1.26.88).
Also notable and medal winning performances
were:
1)
9 year old
Gab Hayek’s 2nd place Bronze finish (in Silver time) in the 100 back
(1.35.71)
2)
9 year old
Brittany Sun’s 3rd place Silver finish in the 100 butterfly
(1.29.41) and 4th place Silver finish in the 100 breast (1.37.69)
3)
10 year old
Ryan Dorneo’s 3rd place Bronze finish (in
Silver time) in the 50 breast (47.84) and his 5th place Bronze
finish (in Silver time) in the 100 breast (1.47.04)
4)
10 year old
Patrick Gilfillan’s 3rd place finish in the Bronze Division of the
50 back (41.70-Silver time)
5)
RJ Fresen’s pair of 4th place finishes: the first
in the Bronze Division 50 fly (42.94-Silver time) and the second in the Silver
Division 50 free (34.40)
6)
10 year old
Eloise Burn’s 4th place Bronze finish (in Silver time) in the 50
back (43.50)
7)
10 year old
Katie Iovel’s 5th place finish in the
Silver Division 50 back (38.53)
8)
9 year old
Sarah Burn’s 5th place Bronze finish in the 100 breast (1.52.54)
9)
10 year old
Carolyn Delaney’s 5th place Bronze finish (in Silver time) in the 50
free (35.44)
10) 9 year old Sandeepan
Mukherjee’s 5th place Bronze finish in the
100 free (1.24.55)
11) 10 year old Natalie Pruitt’s 5th
place finish in the Bronze level 100 IM (1.34.24) in a Silver time
Full team results are posted on the team website. Full meet results are also posted on the team website under 9-10 champs.
Swimmers who participated (# in parathesis is number of best Elite SCY best times): Megan Balbo (5), Schuyler Bunn (5), Eloise Burn (2), Sarah Burn (5), Richie Carchia (5), Carolyn Delaney (1), Ryan Dorneo (4), Summer Felsen (4), Andy Fresen (3), RJ Fresen (3), Katherine Friday (4), Clio Galea (3), Patrick Gilfillan (5), Gab Hayek (4), Andrew Huang (4), Jennifer Huo (3), Katie Iovel (5), Alex Jacobs (6), Sara Jacobs (1), Audrey Kim (5), Jessica Kraus (1), Brandon Li (4), Teddy Maguire (4), Sandeepan Mukherjee (2), Evan Ng (5), Natalie Pruitt (5), Katy Shepard (5), Gian Soriano (3), Brittany Sun (4), Sachi Tanwar (2), Mike Tortorella (4), Abigail Tsay (4), Vivian Xia (2), Claire Xu (5) & Grace Xu (6).
STELLAR EFFORT
BY ELITE PARENTS PROVIDE 2500 SPLASH OPPORTUNITIES FOR
462 SWIMMERS!!!
PREPARATION IN FULL SWING FOR 13-19 SILVERS/BRONZE CHAMPS; PLEASE
RESPOND TO MEET COORDINATORS EMAILS!!
Meet Coordination for the 13 & Older Silver Bronze Championships will
be finalized today meet as Elite will host March 6 & 7 meet at Rutgers
University this coming weekend!!
All parents of swimmers 13 years of age and older are expected to work this
meet as part of their parental obligation to Elite.
13/O – Volunteer
Assignments will be sent out today. Please reply to Carolyn Balbo cbalbo@comcast.net to confirm receipt of
your volunteer assignments.
Elite’s Parental Obligation (which
information was provided in the welcome packet to each swimmer/parent in
September) states that in order to run a successful year round swim club, the
club requires parents/legal guardians to pay all fees and to help run swim
meets (which provide competition opportunities for our swimmers).
As
part of being an Elite Family member, parents need to be willing to work any
and all swim meets that Elite hosts that involve one’s child. In addition to
the various dual/intraclub meets held throughout the
season, this especially includes the 3 USA Swim Meets Elite currently hosts:
Distance Derby, 9-10 Silver Bronze Championships & 13 & Older Silver
Bronze Championships.
Finding a suitable replacement is acceptable, as long as the
situation is communicated with the Elite parent coordinating the meet work
details well in advance of the meet.
Parents and swimmers need to remember NJ Swimming is a “community.”
Being part of that community means Elite needs to provide splash opportunities;
as does other teams. Each meet Elite attends every season is made possible by
Parent Volunteers (from other clubs), which allow Elite swimmers the
opportunity to compete. These upcoming meets are now Elite’s turn to host this
splash opportunities.
Parents or legal guardians who do not work
their assigned meet(s) will jeopardize their child’s status on the Elite Swim
Club.
NAMES OF TRAINING GROUPS TO CHANGE: MARLINS TO BECOME EXPLORERS, WAVEBUSTERS TO
BECOME BELIEVERS, SENIORS NOT YET DECIDED UPON:
In an attempt to properly describe what a training group is all about and where the swimmer is within their personal development, Elite will be changing the names of their training groups this spring.
The Marlin Training Groups will become the Explorers, as the swimmer is at the level where they are exploring both the sport of swimming and Elite as their swim program.
The Wavebuster Training Groups will become the Believers, as the swimmer will be at the level where they now “believe” swimming is THEIR sport and Elite is THEIR swim program.
As of yet, the name for the Seniors and Senior Prep remains undetermined. Bill has not yet found the exact name that properly describes the level of commitment and enthusiasm to best describe the Senior level of training in Elite. Names being considered are: Zealots, Impassioned, Intentness, Immersion. Anyone with a suggestion is welcome to contribute it to Bill.
Because in swimming, a swimmer wants a “lower” time, the scales within the training groups will start with higher numbers and work down. Thus:
Marlin Teals= Explorers 2 Marlin Blacks= Explorers 1
Wavebuster Teals= Believers 3 Wavebuster Blacks= Believers 2 Wavebuster Golds= Believers 1
PICTURES FOR MEMORY BOOK AND SLIDE SHOW TO CHRISTY HARTIGAN;
There is still time to get great photos of your favorite swimmer in both the Memory Book, as provided by ESCPO and the Slide Show (to be presented at the Awards Dinner).
Please get your electronic photos to Christy Hartigan asap. Christy’s email address is: CHARTIGAN1@OPTONLINE.NET.
WITH SEASON END IN SIGHT, TIME TO PLAN TO
PARTY!!!
AWARDS DINNER RESERVATION FORM NOW POSTED UNDER AWARDS DINNER:
Preparations are underway for the biggest party of the season: Elite’s 15th annual Winter Swim Team Banquet!!! This year’s party will be held Sunday, April 11th from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
To reserve your dinner reservations, please print out a 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 by training group!!
Reservation
forms must be in by Thursday, March 30, 2010.
164
REGISTERED TO RETURN TO ELITE THIS SPRING:
164 Elite swimmers have committed to
return to train with the club for the Spring 2010
Season. This is an impressive 93.1% retention rate!
The list of swimmers committed to training with Elite is posted on the team website at the following link: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Tryouts%202/Home%20Page.htm
This list
does not include the 11 seniors in high school and returning college swimmers.
END OF SEASON NOW IN SIGHT:
CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON/MEETS, TRYOUTS & SPRING SESSION EYED:
EVERYONE TRAINS TIL FRIDAY, MARCH 12:
In keeping with its long term developmental goals for its
swimmers, Elite will provide training for all swimmers thru Friday, March 12.
Regardless of when a swimmer’s last championship meet occurs, all swimmers will
be welcome to continue to train thru March 12.
All 8 & Unders, all 9 &
10’s and all 13 thru 19 swimmers will continue training AFTER their Mini
Championship meet or AFTER their Silver/Bronze Meets. 11-12s will train thru their
Silver-Bronze Meet, to be held March 13-14.
Junior Olympic, Sectional and Zone swimmers will continue to train thru
the conclusion of their last championship meet.
All
swimmers (with the possible exception of Sectional & Zone swimmers), will
begin their Spring Season together on Monday, April 5.
This schedule allows for non-JO level swimmers (and
parents) 3 weeks off between seasons (much needed mental and physical rest) and
Junior Olympic swimmers at least 2 full weeks off between sessions.
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.
With regards to Championship Season, all Elite 8 &
Under swimmers will attend the Mini-Championships on Saturday, March 6. All
Elite 9-10’s will attend the 9-10 Silver/Bronze South Championships (Elite
hosts this meet at Newark Academy) Saturday February 27 & Sunday, February
28. All Elite 13 & Olders will attend the 13-19
Silver/Bronze Championships (Elite hosts this meet at Rutgers) on Saturday,
March 6 & Sunday, March 7. All 11-12’s will attend the 11-12 Silver/Bronze
South Championships to be held on Saturday, March 13 & Sunday, March 14th
at Raritan Valley Community College.
Tryouts
for Elite’s Spring/Summer 2010 Session will be held Tuesday, March 23 at 4:30 pm
at Newark Academy. Information regarding this tryout will be posted on the team
website this week.
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 2010. When planning the upcoming summer, please consider sending your Elite swimmer (Wave Black level, Wave Teal level, Marlin Black level or Marlin Teal level) to one of the numerous swim camps. Wave Golds and Seniors should remain training with Elite thru the summer months
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 renown 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!!! Also check out this month’s Swimming World
Magazine, which lists many of the swim camps.
Thinking about summer? Think Swim
Camps!!
REMINDER:
SCHOLAR/ATHLETE AWARDS WILL BE HIGHLIGHT OF AWARDS BANQUET:
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 (Sunday, April 11, 2010) 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, Elite posts 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.
Bill will begin accepting the scholastic information on March 1st. 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 16.
COLLEGE BOUND AND SWIMMING? NJ SWIMMING
SCHOLARSHIP MONEY AVAILABLE:
New Jersey Swimmers who are attending college next year and plan to swim can apply to receive a $1,250 one-time scholarship from New Jersey Swimming. Here is the link: http://www.njswim.org/NJ%20Swim%20Scholastic%20Forms/2010%20NJSIScholarshipApplicationForm.pdf
Information
regarding this scholarship opportunity is attached and the application is
posted on the NJ Swimming website under the College tab.
PARENTS: PLEASE BE PROMPT IN PICKING UP SWIMMERS:
Parents are requested to be prompt in picking up their swimmers at the end of practice. Recently, especially after the Wave Golds on weekdays and the Wave Teals on Saturday, swimmers have had to wait 30-45 minutes after practice for their ride.
Bill has asked the coaches to remain at practice until the last child has been picked up (for the obvious safety reasons). Coaches are more than willing to do so occasionally. But Elite coaches have other full time jobs and several are attending school in addition to their primary jobs and coaching. It is unfair to ask the coaches to spend an additional 30-40 minutes waiting for parents to pick up their children virtually every night.
Elite is prompt about ending practice on time. Please help out the coaches by being prompt to pick up your child.
CLOTHING ITEMS PREVIOUSLY
PURCHASED THRU ESCPO NOW IN: CONTACT ALLISON NASH:
The clothing items previously purchased thru ESCPO have arrived. Parents are encouraged to contact Allison Nash to arrange pick-up at Newark Academy. Allison’s email address is ALLISONRNASH@MSN.COM.
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!!!