ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 03-09-09
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND!!
11-12 RUN JO’S COUNT TO 328!!!
A. DORNEO, KATZ & MCGRATH WIN SILVER EVENTS:
S. HARRIS & G. PICK WIN BRONZE EVENTS;
J. FELSEN (2), J. GORHAM (5), A. GUACELLI, KATZ, MCGRATH (2),
MELCHIOR, K. MILLER-RADEST (2), NASH, C. PICK (2) & WATT (2) ADD 19 JO
QUALIFYING TIMES:
Another
championship weekend, another weekend of spectacular swimming for the Elite
Swim Club. At the 11-12 Silver Bronze South Championships, Elite swimmers won 5
events, posted 19 new JO qualifying times and ran the Elite team total to an
amazing 328 Junior Olympic qualifying times (last year’s total was 284).
Elite
was most impressive in the Girls 100 yard butterfly event. Completely mauling
the competition, Elite girls placed 1st (Katie McGrath), 2nd
(Jess Gorham), 3rd (Alli Dorneo) and two Elite girls tied for 5th
(Caroline Nash and Gabrielle Pick)!!! All these girls were under the JO qualifying
time!!
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 Thus, the swimmers were divided by sex and by Silver and
Bronze entry times. Winners in each level were determined by their entry time.
Taking
advantage of her last opportunity, 12 year old Jess Gorham achieved 5 Junior
Olympic times in 6 attempts to run her JO totals to 14 individual qualifying
times. Jess placed 2nd in the 100 butterfly (1.10.33), 3rd
in the 500 free (6.02.61), 4th in the 100 free (1.01.73), 5th
in the 50 breast (37.27) and 6th in the 200 butterfly (2.45.06). In
her only non-JO qualifying swim, Jess placed 11th in the 200
breaststroke (2.58.95), missing the cut time by less than 1 second!!
12
year old Alli Dorneo, whose birthday (this week) and prior 11-12 accomplishments
limits her ability to compete in the season ending championships (she had JO
cuts 13 events as a 12 year old but ages up prior to JOs), swam the only 3 events
she was not gold in as a 12 year old. In those events, Alli won the 100 free
(59.87), dropping below the magical 1 minute mark for the 1st time,
placed 3rd in the 100 fly (1.10.55) and 6th in the 50
breast (37.30)-all in JO qualifying times. Alli has previously qualified for JOs
in the 100 back as a 13-14 year old (and Alli’s, as well as other swimmers who
had JO qualifying times but age up prior to JOs cut times are NOT included in
the team JO count!).
12
year old Katie McGrath, who was recently sick, shook off the cobwebs and won
the 100 butterfly in a 1.09.71 JO time. Katie also hung tough in the 200 fly,
placing 4th overall and going gold with a 2.42.86 time.
12
year old Zach Katz, in his only event he competed in (Zach has JO qualifying
times in every other event offered this weekend-1000 and 1650 were not
contested), won the 100 yard backstroke with a 4 second drop (1.09. 03) in a JO
qualifying time.
At
the Bronze level, two Elite swimmers won events: Scott Harris and Gabrielle
Pick. Harris won the 200 breast in the 1st time he performed the
event (Scott recently aged up and 10 & Unders rarely have the opportunity
to race 200 stroke events). Scott also
placed 7th in the Bronze division in the 50 breast (41.77).
Pick
was red hot all weekend, winning the 500 free with a 13 second drop (6.35.42).
Pick also went JO in the 400 IM (5.43.61) and the 100 fly (1.13.17)-placing 5th-
in performing personal best in all 6 swims.
12
year old Juliet Felsen nabbed two more JO qualifying times, pushing her
personal total to 13, by placing 3rd in both the 200 yard butterfly
(2.40.01) and the 100 free (1.01.62).
12
year old Caroline Watt demonstrated her endurance, by adding JO swims to her
schedule in the 200 free (2.15.07-5th place) and the 200 IM
(2.36.44-9th place). Caroline also had a 10 second drop in her 200
breast (3.02.29) and personal bests in all 6 events she swam.
12
year old Kara Miller-Radest added JO qualifying times #13 & #14 to her
resume, going gold in both the 50 (33.39) and 100 back (1.11.25). A sprinter/fly swimmer prior to this season,
Kara’s hard work has helped her develop into a well rounded star-with JO cuts
in the all 3 IM’s and distance free, along with the fly, back and sprint free
events.
11
year old Karl Melchior grabbed his 5th JO qualifying time this
weekend, placing 4th in the 50 yard butterfly (32.36). Karl also
closed the gap on JO qualifying times in 4 other swims, setting himself up
nicely for next year!
12
year old Andre Guacelli, who had 6 personal bests this weekend, dropped 4
seconds in the 200 yard breast (3.02.64) to go gold.
11
year old Caroline Nash pressed and popped her way to a 5th place
finish and JO qualifying time in the 100 butterfly (1.13.17). Caroline also
placed 7th in the 200 butterfly (2.49.80)-only 3 seconds from JO’s.
Nash also performed 6 pbs.
Other
notable performances were:
1)
11 year old Morgan Conley placed 3rd
in the 100 back (1.19.88-3 second drop) in the Bronze Division
2)
11 year old Elizabeth D’Altrui had 6
personal bests, and two 5 second drops
3)
12 year old Drew D’Andrea had 5
personal bests, including a 13 second drop in the 100 fly
4)
11 year old Brielle Barba had 5
personal bests-and a 5 second drop in the 100 breast
5)
11 year old Andrea Ferrell had 5
personal bests-including a 6 second drop in the 100 breast
6)
11 year old Alyssa Hartigan had 5
personal bests-and placed 2nd in the 400 IM (6.02.50) in the Bronze
Division
7)
11 year old Jared Kovacs had 6
personals bests-and a 6th place finish in the 200 IM (2.49.04) in
the Bronze Division
8)
11 year old Isabel LaRaia had 6
personal bests-including a 13 second drop in the 500 free (6.17.27)
9)
12 year old Charlotte Morrissey had 5
personal bests & a 7 second drop in the 200 back (2.43.21)
10) 11 year old Camille Relota had 6
personal bests including a 4 second drop in the 50 breast (42.45)
11) 11 year old Sonia Samtani had 6
personal bests-every drop was 2 seconds or more
12) 11 year old Abir Thakur had 5
personal bests, including a 6th place finish in the 100 breast
(1.34.60) in the Bronze Division
Swimmers who
participated (# in parenthesis is number of best Elite SCY best times): Brielle
Barba (5), Katie Brosnan (3), Thomas Burke (4), Morgan Conley (2), Elizabeth
D’Altrui (6), Drew D’Andrea (4), Alli Dorneo (3), Avi Duvvuri (2), Madeleine
Faust (2), Katie Fell (4), Juliet Felsen (2), Andrea Ferrell (5), Jess Gorham
(6), Andre Guacelli (6), Scott Harris (6), Alyssa Hartigan (5), Zach Katz (1),
Jared Kovacs (6), Isabel LaRaia (6), Katie McGrath (4), Karl Melchior (5),
Matthew Migliozzi, Kara Miller-Radest (5), Charlotte Morrissey (5), Julia Muro
(3), Caroline Nash (6), Gregory Niccolai (4), Grace Ocheretyaner (1), Gabrielle
Pick (6), Michelle Pick (3), Camille Relota (6), Sonia Samtani (6), Abir Thakur
(5) & Caroline Watt (6).
LAST WEEK OF PRACTICE FOR NON-JO SWIMMERS:
FOR AGE GROUPERS: SPRING PRACTICE BEGINS MONDAY, APRIL 6:
This is the last week of practice for non-JO level swimmers.
Practice for the Winter 2008-09 Session will conclude on Friday, March 13. All
JO level swimmers will continue to train thru next week’s Junior Olympic meet.
All Age Group swimmers (with the possible exception of
Zone swimmers) will begin their Spring Season on Monday, April 6.
Senior and Senior Preps will begin their Spring Sessions
by having team meetings & a practice: Seniors: Monday, March 30 and Senior
Preps: Tuesday, March 31. First full practice will be on Wednesday, April 1st
for both the Seniors and Senior Preps.
NEW MATH: 3=9;
ELITE WILL SEND 6 RELAYS TO SECTIONALS;
With
last week’s Sectional level performance by 15 year old Priya Duvvuri, the Elite
Swim Club will be sending a total of 9 swimmers to the prestigious Sectional
meet to be held March 12 thru March 15 at Harvard University in Cambridge,
Massachusetts.
Due
to the meet requirement that each qualifying relay needs at least 1 individual
qualifier as a relay member, Elite has qualified 6 relays in addition to the
individual qualifications by Michael Strand, Ricky Martin and Duvvuri. Since
the boys have 4 relays and the girls have 2 relays under the qualifying times,
Elite will compete on a larger scale than previously thought!!
Attending
Sectionals as relay only swimmers will be: Breana Fitzpatrick, Regan Kology,
Michael Li, Brittany Ross, Adam Weinbrom & Ryan Wyer. Each relay only
swimmer will be able to participate in two time trials events following the
morning sessions. Times achieved at these time trials will be legitimate times
that can be used for proof of times in USA Swimming Meets (including this
summer sectionals).
Due
to the weekend conflict of 13-19 Silver Bronze Champsionships that Elite is
co-hosting, Bill will not be attending Sectionals this year. Coaches Michael
Turkot and Patty Martin will supervise the Elite swimmers in Boston.
GOTTA
BE IN IT TO WIN: EX-ELITE PARENT WINS $MILLION$;
Ex-Elite parent Todd Ellis was part of the Chubb Insurance employees that won the $216 millions Mega-Million Jackpot last week. Todd and Kathleen Ellis are parents of Caroline Ellis, who swam for Elite from Sept 2002 thru July 2006. The Ellis’s live in Maplewood.
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.
138 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 THIS Thursday, March 12, 2009.
PARENTS GEARING UP 13 & OLDER CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Parents of all 13 & Older swimmers are being contacted 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, has begun 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.
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:
51 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!!!