ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               03-05-07

                                                                    Revised 03-05-07

 

11-12’S CONTINUE CHAMPIONSHIP MARCH MADNESS:

CHO, DUVVURI, GORMAN, STEARNS & MILLER-RADEST ADD 11 JO SWIMS:

 

            The 11-12’s took their turn in smashing their previous best times this past weekend at New Jersey Swimming’s 11-12 Silver/Bronze Championships held at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City with results similar to the 9 & 10’s performance last weekend: they were terrific.

 

            Five Elite swimmers added 12 events to their Junior Olympic swimming schedules. Elite’s individual Junior Olympic roster remained at 31 swimmers though the event total has now swollen to 164 individual events.

 

Elite was led by Brannon Cho, who qualified in 5 different JO events (out of 6 swims). Cho, who missed many meets this past winter while visiting his brother at college, has posted 8 JO qualifying times in the last month (Last Chance and Silver-Bronze meets). In fact, in 3 of his swims, Brannon was seeded with Bronze times and needed to race the clock to earn his times!! Brannon qualified in the 50 yard breast (37.50), 100 IM (1.12.10), 50 back (33.33), 100 Free (1.02.88) and 200 IM (2.36.49).

 

            Krishna Duvvuri followed close behind by qualifying in 3 JO events: 50 breast (37.23), 50 back (33.84) & the 100 breast (1.22.96). Krishna now has 5 Junior Olympic times.

 

            Katie Gorman added a Junior Olympic swim in her 100 free race (1.02.36)-she now has 4 while teammate Lindsay Stearns churned to a Junior Olympic time in her 200 butterfly swim (2.46.39).    

 

            Brendan Miller-Radest splashed to a Junior Olympic time in his 500 Free (6.03.02).

 

            Elite had numerous other great swims, among them:

 

1)      Kristen Fedor winning the Bronze 1st place in the 200 free (2.29.56) followed closely by 2nd place finisher Laura Culiuc (2.29.95)

 

2)      Isabella Morreale winning the Bronze 1st place in the 50 Breast (39.05)

 

3)      Meg Brosnan, Cho, Duvvuri, Gorman, Miller-Radest, all dropping time in each of their 6 events

 

4)      Rachel Greene, Patrick Lai, Daniel Muro, Dara O’Gorman, Chris Plunkett and Richard Yu all dropping time in 5 of their 6 events.

 

The complete results are posted on the Elite website.

 

            Swimmers who participated were (# in parenthesis is # of best SCY swims): Arlynn Baer (3), Courtney Brosnan (1), Meg Brosnan (6), Keegan Brown (2), Brannon Cho (6), Ethan Cohen (2), Jonny Crowther (4), Laura Culiuc (4), Krishna Duvvuri (6), Helena Elston (3), Brandon Faris (2), Kristen Fedor (4), Emilie Ferguson (3), Katie Golway (3), Katie Gorman (6), Lydia Gracey (2), Rachel Greene (5), Julia Guacelli (3), Payton Hakes (2), Patrick Lai (5), Clark LaRaia (4), Jessie Lowe (2), Marisa Manzi (1), Megan McEvoy (2), Brendan Miller-Radest (6), Isabella Morreale (4), Daniel Muro (5), Dara O’Gorman (5), Evan O’Hara (3), Nick Pachiolo (3), Chris Plunkett (5), Taylor Savarese (5), Lindsay Stearns (4), Rachel Tortorella (4), Andrea Tyminski (2), Sarah Weinbrom (5), Maggie Woodruff (3) & Richard Yu (5).

 

OFFICALLY: 8 & UNDERS FINISH WITH EXCEPTIONAL SWIMS AT MINI’S;

STEARNS ADDS JO SWIM:

 

            With the official results now available, it is confirmed that Elite swimmers turned in exceptional performances at New Jersey’s 8 & Under Mini-Championships this past Saturday at Seton Hall University.

 

            Elite was led by 8 year old swimming phenom Kaitlin Stearns, who added her 2nd Junior Olympic qualifying time in winning the 50 back (37.86). Kaitlin won all four of her individual events: the 50 free (32.95), 50 back, 100 back (1.22.74) & the 100 free (1.17.43).

 

            8 year old Chris Balbo also swam fabulously, dropping 6 seconds in the 100 yard back (1.34.73) in placing 2nd. Balbo also added a 5th place finish in the 50 fly (47.10) and a 6th place finish in the 50 back (44.57).   

 

            8 year old Christina Pick placed 2nd in the 100 breast (1.39.22). Christina also finished 4th in both the 100 free (1.22.69) and the 100 IM (1.31.24) and 6th in the 100 back (1.30.39).

 

            8 year old Lauren Kelly stroked to a 5th place finish in the 25 breast (23.17) while 8 year old Sarah Kleppe cruised to a 6th place finish in the 25 back (21.47).

 

            The official results are now posted on the website. Elite will update the results upon receipt of the official results.

 

            Swimmers who participated were (# in parenthesis is # of best SCY swims): Chris Balbo (2), Megan Balbo (3), Abbie Bigham (3), John Burkard (3), Amy Duren (4), Erika Fresen (1), Emily Goad (2), Alexandra Gordon (4), Lauren Kelly (3), Sarah Kleppe (4), Brandon Li (2), Sarah Lowe (4), Colin Miller-Radest (3), Christina Pick (2), Kaitlin Stearns (4).

 

DART WINS HIGH SCHOOL MEET OF CHAMPIONS 100 BACK IN NEAR RECORD TIME:

ROSS, HO & BASILE ALSO PARTICIPATE:

 

            High School Swimming concluded this past weekend with its annual “Meet of Champions” competition at Gloucester County Institute of Technology pool complex in South Jersey. As he begins his championship assault (MOC, Sectionals & British Nationals), Chris Dart won the 100 yard backstroke in a personal best time of 51.08 (almost a full second drop), just missing the high school state record of  51.05.

 

            Dart, who is midway thru his 1st two week taper, won both the preliminary and finals by over a second.

 

            Demonstrating his versatility, Dart placed 4th in the 200 yard IM with a 1.55.29 time. In prelims, Chris had posted a personal best 1.54.79 time (3 seconds faster than his previous best).

 

            Sophomore Brittany Ross also qualified individually and participated at the meet in the Girls 100 yard butterfly, placing 32nd.

 

            Seniors Danielle Basile and Jerel Ho participated on their high school relays.

 

ELITE TAKES NEXT STEP: DART GOING INTERNATIONAL:

 

For a myriad of reasons, Chris Dart will forego competing in the USA Spring Senior Nationals Championships (which he qualified for at Burgdorff last month) and instead will compete in Manchester, England at the British Long Course Nationals (“BLCN”) during the week of March 27. This will be the 1st instance where an Elite swimmer will represent Elite at an international competition!!

 

Dart, who was born in England and is a British Citizen, has opted to compete in the BLCM in order to 1) finish his season in a long course venue (he will be competing at Sectionals two weeks prior, which will be a short course venue  2) to get more opportunities to compete. At USA Senior Nationals, Chris would have swum no more than 4 times; at BLCM, because of the meet format (prelims, semi-finals and finals plus time trials) Chris could compete over 20 times during the week long competition and 3) since Chris is British, this will provide him with an opportunity to get on the British Swimming radar screen. If Chris reaches the level where he is a national level swimmer, he will need to declare which country (USA or Britain) he would competed for in international competition.

 

As expected, the rules are a bit different at BLCM. Although just 16 (Dec 30), Chris will compete as a 17 year old (age up date is Dec 31), so Chris is considered 17 all year long. As a 17 –18 year old entry, Chris qualified for 4 events: 100 back-at the Senior level and the 200 back, 200 IM and 400 IM as a 17-18 entry. Given that there are 3 rounds of competition and that the 17-18 year olds compete separately in finals, Chris has an opportunity to swim 12 times between these 4 events. In addition, Chris will be able to time trial an event (particularly the 100 & 200 breast). The time trials are held prior to the event competition. Swimmers who make the qualifying time in time trials are placed in the preliminary heats!! In the USA, competitors entering time trials are not afforded the opportunity to swim in the prelims, even if they make the qualifying time. 

 

 Competition will be held Monday, March 27 thru Saturday, April 1st. This means that Chris will need to fly to England prior to the awards banquet. Bill will catch-up to Chris in Manchester by flying out directly after the awards banquet on March 26. Sue and David Dart are also planning on traveling to England to root Chris on.

 

AT CHAMPIONSHIP MEETS, FASTSKINS IIS ARE OK;

REMEMBER: THE SWIMMER MAKES THE SUIT!!!

 

            Elite Swimmers are reminded that they are allowed (even encouraged) to wear technologically advanced swim suits at any of their championship meets. While not a requirement, Elite swimmers are strongly urged to purchase black suits, in keeping with the Elite uniform.

 

            These suits are supposed to repel the water that results in eliminating drag and purportedly helps a swimmer to move more efficiently thru the water. More important to the actual affect is the psychological affect this suit has on a swimmer: they feel faster!!!

 

All swimmers and parents are reminded: a swimmer makes the suit. A suit does not make a swimmer. The season’s long hard work, the getting enough rest and eating right, great stroke technique, doing your stroke details AND A POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE drops a whole lot more time than any fastskin suit can!!!! 

 

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, March 25, 2007) 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 Qualfying 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.

 

Bill is now accepting the scholastic information. It needs to be in by early March, 2007.

 

TEAM BANQUET RESERVATIONS: LIST POSTED ON WEB: 

 

            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!!!

 

A list of those who have made reservations is posted on the website http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Awards%20Dinner/Attendees%202007.htm fill it in and mail the form with the appropriate check amount to Bill Deatly, 32 Prospect Street, Summit, New Jersey 07901.

 

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 1st.     

 

ESPO NEWS:

 

      Parents, the ESCPO fundraiser of the sale of RAGZ towel pants at the 9/10 Championships will be extended to Elite Swimmers this week only. See attached flyer on how to order you sweats!

 

            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.

 

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!!

 

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!!!

                    

 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.