ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               03-19-07

                                                                  

“ELITE 32” SMASH BILL’S 500 TEAM JO POINT CHALLENGE BY 268 POINTS!!

TEAM PLACES 12TH OVERALL;

STRAND, MORRISON, KOLOGY, MARTIN LEAD WAY:   

 

            Despite competing without phenom Chris Dart (who is resting for the British Long Course National Championships next week), 32 Elite Swim Club members posted 768 team points this past weekend at New Jersey Swimming’s Junior Olympics for a 12th place finish (out of 51 teams.). The three day meet was held at Rutgers University.

 

            Elite was lead by 14 year old Michael Strand, 16 year old Alex Morrison, 10 year old Regan Kology and 14 year old Ricky Martin.

 

            Michael Strand was simply dazzling all weekend long: swimming a best time 15 of his 18 individual swims and contributed significantly to 3 relays. Strand’s 21 swim, three day marathon earned him a tie in the 13-14 Boys High Point Award competition with 107 points as he finaled in each of his 9 events. Along the way, Strand took his place among the region’s elite by posting his 1st Sectional cut in placing 2nd in the 100 yard back (54.77). Michael had two 2nd place finishes (100 back and 200 back), a 4th place finish in the 200 breast (2.22.72) and a 6th place finish in the 400 IM (4.28.49).

 

            Alex Morrison added a Sectional qualifying time to his total from last week’s Sectional time trial and relay performances in the 200 yard back (1.57.55) bringing his total to 4. He is also close in two other events. Alex soared to a 2nd place finish in the 100 free (dropping time from last week’s performance-48.13) and a fourth place finish in the 100 fly (52.29).   

 

            10 year old Regan Kology continued to her dream season by placing no lower than 3rd in the 4 freestyle events offered to 10 & Unders. Regan cruised to a 2nd place finish in the 500 free (6.10.18) on Saturday and added three 3rd place finishes: 1) 50 free-28.66  2) 100 free-1.03.86 & 3) 200 free-2.21.61!!! Regan’s weekend included three 5th place finishes: 1) 100 IM-1.14.07 2) 100 Breast-1.23.13 and 3) 50 breast. Kology’s efforts earned her 6th place in the 9 & 10 Girls High Point Award Race with 118 points!!!

 

            As a 14 year old, speed demon Ricky Martin blasted thru two significant freestyle barriers: dipping under the 23 second mark in the 50 free (22.82) in placing 2nd in the 50 free and 3rd in the 100 free (49.82). Martin also placed 2nd in the 100 fly (54.65)!!!!

 

            13 year old Ali Morreale was stunning in the 100 breast, as she dropped nearly 4 seconds to posted the 1st Elite sub 1.12 hundred breast of any age (1.11.66). Ali’s effort placed her 11th overall. Ali also placed 12th in the 200 breast (2.34.63).

 

            In addition, there were other significant performances, including:

 

1)      14 year old Duncan Hall finaled in 4 events: 100 back (59.01), 50 Free (23.77), 200 back (2.11.19) & 100 Free (54.34).

 

2)      16 year old Chris Dart, in his only individual race of the weekend, placed 1st in his signature event: 100 back a career best 51.07.

 

3)      12 year old Michael Li continued his breaststroke prowess, placing 4th in the 200 (2.33.84), 5th in the 50 breast (33.33) and 6th in the 100 breast (1.12.15)

 

4)      18 year old Austin Meszaros clipped time off both his 50 free (22.28) and in his 6th place 100 free (48.78) finish

 

5)       10 year old Andrea Shepard, dropping time in 8 of her 9 swims, placed 6th in both the 500 free (6.26.58-a 21 second drop) and the 200 IM (2.24.49) and 7th in the 200 free (2.24.49)

 

Stud relay performances included:

 

1)      10 & Under Girls 200 yard Free Relay combination of Regan Kology, Andrea Shepard, Juliet Felsen & Kara Miller-Radest placed 3rd with a sizzling time of 2.02.58!!

 

2)      13-14 Boys 400 Free Relay consisting of Michael Strand, Ricky Martin, Duncan Hall & John Burns placed 4th in 3.32.44. This same combo teamed up for a 5th place finish in the 400 Medley Relay with a 3.57.45 time

 

Swimmers who participated were (# in parenthesis is # of best SCY times): Courtney Brosnan, Brannon Cho (5), Crissy Condus, Chris Dart (1), Carolyn DeMeo (1), Krishna Duvvuri (2), Priya Duvvuri (2), Venkatesh Duvvuri, Juliet Felsen (5), Breana Fitzpatrick (1), Katie Gorman (2), Duncan Hall (9), Zackie Katz (4), Gregory Keiser (1), Regan Kology (8), Aaron Levin (3), Michael Li (6), Danielle Martinez (2), Ricky Martin (9), Austin Meszaros (3), Brendan Miller-Radest (2), Kara Miller-Radest (3), Ali Morreale (4), Alex Morrison (11), Dan Muro (1), Michelle Pick (1), Brittany Ross (3), Andrea Shepard (8), Kaitlin Stearns (2), Lindsay Stearns (3) & Michael Strand (15).

 

SPRING SCHEDULE; SUMMER SCHEDULE: WAVE TEALS OPTIONAL  

 

            Elite has posted the Spring 2007 and Summer 2007 master practice schedules on the website. 

 

There will actually be 3 separate schedules, as the schedules will change as Elite transitions from indoor swimming to outdoor swimming with the more advanced training groups. Parents & swimmers should remember that there will be updated three week schedules posted on the website each week.

 

            Please note that Wave Blacks, Wave Golds, Senior Preps and Seniors are expected to train from April 1st thru Summer JO’s (late July). Reduction in attendance is expected as vacations and summer league swimming cuts into Elite practices. However, if a swimmer expects to improve (and to be considered for promotion at the end of the summer), attendance levels will be a significant part of the equation!!!

 

            This summer, Elite will offer Wave Teals the opportunity to train with the team thru late July. For this summer, Wave Teal training will be optional.

 

Marlin Blacks and Marlin Teals will train from April 1st thru June 8th. 

 

ELITE COACH ASHLEY JOHNSTON NAMED TO ZONE STAFF:

 

            First year coach Ashley Johnston has been named to the New Jersey Swimming Eastern Zone Coaching staff!! Zones will be held March 29th thru March 31st in Buffalo, New York.

 

            The Spring SCY New Jersey Zone team is picked after Junior Olympics and is based mainly upon performance at JO’s. The top 2 swimmers at JO’s in each event within each age group who apply will be picked to be on the Zone Team.

 

            This spring, Elite hopes to place a number of swimmers on the New Jersey Zone team.

 

            Ashley, along with another NJ Swimming coach, will be responsible for the 10 & Unders during their travel and stay in Buffalo!!

 

PARKING AN ISSUE AT NEWARK ACADEMY:

 

            As we head into the Spring 2007 Session, parents are reminded that there is a distinct shortage of parking spaces at Newark Academy, especially on weekdays between 5:15 pm and 6:30 pm. Parents are welcome to “drop off” or “pick-up” their swimmers by the field house entrance during this time period if the driver remains in the car. If a parent is coming into the building, they are requested to park in the “upper” lot and walk thru the school to reach the pool.

 

            Please remember to drive slowly thru the parking lots and do not park in the fire lanes, as the Livingston Police will ticket improperly parked cars.

 

LIST OF SWIMMERS WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR SCHOLAR/ATHLETE AWARDS IS NOW POSTED ON WEBSITE; DEADLINE TUESDAY, MARCH 20TH:

 

          Elite has compiled a list of swimmers who have applied for the 2006-07 Elite Scholar/Athlete Awards and the list is now posted on the website under Awards Dinner.

 

Each year, Elite awards those athletes who are also scholars with the highest award an Elite Athlete can obtain: the Scholar/Athlete Awards. The awards are presented at the annual awards dinner to be held Sunday, March 25. 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.

 

Bill is now accepting the scholastic information. Report cards need to be provided to Bill by March 20, 2007 for consideration.

 

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. Any team member/parent who would like to come to help time/organize is highly encouraged to do so!!!