ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               04-06-09

 

           

ELITE ZONE 6 KNOCK EM’ DEAD!!!

C. BALBO, A. GALEA, KOLOGY, KATZ, SEBASTIAN, K. STEARNS SWIM SPECTACULARLY AGAINST THE NORTHEAST’S BEST;

 

            Based upon their spectacular performances at Junior Olympics two weekends ago, 6 Elite swimmers were chosen to represent New Jersey Swimming at the Eastern Zone All-Star Championships held last week in Rochester, NY. As hard as it may be to believe, these 6, who needed to swim spectacularly to be chosen for Zones in the first place, actually swam BETTER at the Zone Meet. An extremely prestigious honor, as only about 40 swimmers (out of 8000) in New Jersey are invited to represent NJ Swimming at this meet.

     

10 year old Chris Balbo, 10 year old Andrea Galea, 12 year old Regan Kology, 12 year old Zach Katz, 12 year old Ryan Sebastian and 10 year old Kaitlin Stearns competed in an array of events against 11 other LSC's (NJ Swimming is an LSC). Other Eastern Zone LSC's include: Adirondack, Allegheny Mountains, Connecticut, Maryland, Maine, Metropolitan, Mid-Atlantic, New England, Niagara, Potomac Valley & Virginia. This means that for all intents and purposes, our swimmers were competing against the fastest swimmers in the entire Northeast of the country!

 

            While not all official results have been posted at this time (meet was run superbly, with the one exception of on-line results!), here is how the Elite Zone swimmers did:

 

            10 year old Andrea Galea was part of a winning and a meet record breaking 4 x 50 Medley Relay. Galea performed the backstroke leg. In addition, Galea placed 2nd in the 50 back with 30.99 time, dropping .5 off her 2nd place JO finish.

 

            10 year old Kaitlin Stearns also participated in a winning relay, the 4 x 100 Free Relay. Kaitlin also placed 3rd in the 500 free (5.55.33), 6th in both the 100 free (1.00.47) and the 200 free (2.12.34). All three swims were personal bests and improvements upon her JO swims!

 

            Stearns and Galea also were members of a 2nd place relay, the 4 x 50 Free Relay.  

 

            12 year old Regan Kology, participating on her 5th Zone team, placed 3rd in both the following events: 500 free (5.16.21) & 200 free (1.59.67). Kology, the busiest Elite swimmer, also finaled in the 200 IM (2.15.48 & 5th place), 50 free (25.39 & 6th place) and the 100 free (55.11 & 8th place). To accomplish these places, Regan needed to compete in both the prelims & finals. Regan’s only non-final individual event was the 100 IM, which she placed 9th (1st alternate for finals) with a 1.04.83. Regan also competed on two relays: a 3rd place finisher in the 4 x 50 Free Relay and a 4th place finisher in the 4 x 100 Free Relay. All of Regan’s swims were either personal bests or right on her personal bests!

 

            10 year old Chris Balbo was also busy. Chris placed 3rd in the 500 free, dropping 5 seconds to finish with a 5.45.12, 6th in the 200 free (2.11.23), 13th in the 200 IM and 15th in the 100 IM (1.12.59). Balbo’s Saturday swims are still not posted. Chris was also a member of the 4 x 50 Free Relay that placed 6th and the 4 x 100 Free Relay that placed 8th.

 

            12 year old Ryan Sebastian was awesome in the 50 fly (26.49-5th place-personal best) and the 200 fly (6th place and 2.15.40-personal best time). These were also prelim/final events. Ryan competed in the 200 back (11th place-2.11.67-personal best) and the 100 fly (non-official report of a 1.01 time). Ryan’s speciality, the 400 IM, is not offered at the 11-12 level.

 

            12 year old Zach Katz dropped 3 full seconds in the 200 fly (2.19. 34) to finish 11th. Zach, along with Ryan, were NJ Swimming’s representatives in the 200 fly!!!        

           

 First year coach Michelle DuCharme was a part of the New Jersey Swimming Eastern Zone Coaching staff, with direct responsibilities of the 10 & Unders. She was directly responsible for Balbo, Galea and Stearns!! 

 

HERE WE GO AGAIN:

SPRING 2009 SESSION BEGINS FOR AGE GROUPERS TODAY:

 

Elite begins its Spring 2009 Spring/Summer Age Group program today. Practices will be held for Marlin Teals, Marlin Blacks, Wavebuster Teals and Wavebuster Golds. Tomorrow, the Wavebuster Teals will hold their first practice.

 

Elite begins with great anticipation for continued development. Coming off its 4th place finish at JO’s last weekend, the future for Elite is blindingly bright.

 

Marlin Teals and Marlin Blacks will train from April 6 thru June 12: all practices will be at either Newark Academy (Monday thru Saturday) or Morristown-Beard School (Sundays).

 

The Wavebuster Teals, Wavebuster Blacks will train from April 6 thru approximately July 30. They will utilize Newark Academy, Morristown-Beard School and the Springfield Municipal Pool (starting in June 20). Springfield is a long course venue.

 

The Wavebuster Golds will train from April 6 thru approximately July 30. They will utilize Newark Academy, Morristown-Beard School, the Summit Municipal Pool and the Springfield Municipal Pool (starting in June 20). Both Summit and Springfield are long course venues.

 

Because Elite uses 4 different pools during this session, there are different practice schedules that are now posted on the team website: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Practice%20Schedule/homepage%20practice.htm. Please check out the 3 week practice schedules on a daily basis.

 

MARCH TRYOUTS YIELD EVEN MORE QUALITY FOR THIS SEASON:

 

As a result of last week’s tryouts, 24 additional and very advanced swimmers have committed to train with Elite this spring (and summer, for the Wavebusters).

 

Those invited and who accepted to join the team as a result of the March 2009 tryouts are:

 

Wave Golds: Daniel Chu, Kelly Delaney & Greg Macchia

 

Wave Blacks: Thomas McShane, Michael Nitting & Eugene Ng

 

Wave Teals: Wiliam Delaney, Jennifer Huo, Alicia Iizuka, Karen Iizuka, Michael Macchia, Evan Ng & Samantha Zhong

 

Marlin Blacks: Daniel Bendzak, Claire Chiperfield, Carolyn Delaney, Erica Iizuka & Monica Iizuka

 

Marlin Teals: Grace Botte, Schuyler Bunn, Koby Cohen, Alyssa Levy, Delaney Smith & Sachi Tanwar

 

Congratulations to all the above!!! The coaches can’t wait to begin working with you on a day-to-day basis!!

 

ELITE GOING GREEN; SPRING BILLS TO BE SENT BY EMAIL:

 

            Although Elite does not have a large “carbon footprint,” any and all efforts to be more green and more efficient need to be explored. In this spirit, Elite will be emailing the team membership bills this spring, rather than sending them by mail. The Spring 2009 bill should be out within the next two weeks.

 

            If there is anyone who needs to have their bill mailed to them, they should contact Bill directly.

 

PARKING AN ISSUE AT NEWARK ACADEMY:

 

            As we head into the Spring 2009 Session, parents are reminded that there is a distinct shortage of parking spaces at Newark Academy, especially on weekdays between 5:00 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.  Newark Academy is also now requesting the cars do not idle.

 

            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.

           

NOMINATIONS WANTED FOR ESCPO:

 

            Nominations for positions are wanted and needed for the Elite Swim Club Parents Organization. Parents who are interested or who have nominees should email Sandi Niccolai at sandnic@aol.com.

 

ELITE’S TOP 10 ALL TIME SCY LIST IS NOW UPDATED:

 

               Elite’s top 10 all time times list has been updated and posted on the team website. http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Top Times/top_times_home_page.htm.

 

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!!

 

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!!!