ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               05-31-10

 

“Cultivating Excellence in Academics, Character and Swimming”         

 

WE CAME TO RACE!!!

BIG POOL AND BIG COMPETITION MOTIVATE ELITE SWIMMERS!!!

DUVVURI, GALEA (3) & L. STEARNS (3) WIN 7 EVENTS,

IIZUKA, SEBASTIAN (2), K. STEARNS, STRAND (2) & TORTORELLA (2) ALL PLACE 2ND;

STRAND ADDS 10TH SECTIONAL QUALIFYING TIME;

J. GORHAM, A. IIZUKA, K. STEARNS & L. STEARNS COLLECT 5 LCM ZONE CUTS;

J. COYNE, J. FELSEN, A. GALEA, J. GORHAM (6), S. HARRIS (3), K. IIZUKA, KESELMAN (2), B. LI (3), I. MORREALE, C. NASH (3), NG (5), C. PICK, G. PICK, C. RELOTA, K. SHEPARD, K. STEARNS, SUN (2), TORTORELLA, TSAY (2), A. WEINBROM, V. XIA (3), C. XU & G. XU (6) ADD 48 JO CUTS!!! 

 

            Faced early in the season with big competition in the big pool this past weekend at the 19th annual Memorial Day Invitational Meet held at Rutgers University, Elite swimmers responded by simply racing their competition. The results team wide were outstanding:

 

            3 Elite swimmers (Lindsay Stearns, Andrea Galea and Avinash Duvvuri) won 7 events; Michael Strand collected his 10th Sectional qualifying time, 4 Elite swimmers added 5 LCM Zone cuts and 23 different swimmers added 48 LCM Junior Olympic cuts (team totals are currently 40 swimmers in 176 events). The team has exactly doubled its JO # of swimmers AND # of swims in their 2 lcm meets!!

 

            Memorial Day Invitational’s strict qualifying standards entices such regional powerhouses as Long Island Aquatics, Badgers Swim Club (of Westchester, NY), Delaware Swim Team, the Condors (of Nyack, NY), and Coastal Maine Aquatics to the meet along with NJ powerhouses Berkeley, Scarlet, CJAC and X-Cel to the meet. Elite was right in the thick of things all weekend long, in all age groups.

 

            14 year old Lindsay Stearns & 11 year old Andrea Galea were dazzling, each winning 3 events a piece.

 

            Lindsay continued her torrid swimming by winning 3 events: the 100 butterfly (1.07.08), the 200 butterfly (2.38.98) and the the 200 backstroke (2.35.68). Lindsay was also brilliant in her 100 back (placing 3rd with a 1.12.58 time) and in the 200 IM (placing 3rd with a 2.35.08 time). Lindsay’s 200 back was her 6th Eastern Zone qualifying time.

 

            Andrea blew away the competition in both her backstroke wins; Andrea won the 50 back (dropping .5 off her nationally ranked time) to win by 2 full seconds in 32.29!!! Andrea followed up by winning the 100 back (dropping 1.67 off her nationally ranked time) to win by 3.4 seconds in 1.10.24!! Galea’s 100 back time is just 1.1 seconds over a Sectional qualifying time!!! Andrea also touched first on her stomach, winning the 50 free (just ahead of teammate Kaitlin Stearns) with a 29.61 time. Galea placed 4th in the 100 free with her 1.05.07 performance.

 

            12 year old Avinash Duvvuri, in his 1st event of the meet and placed in the 1st heat with a conversion time, rocketed to a 1st place finish in the 50 back (33.80). Duvvuri followed up with a 3rd place finish in the 50 breast (39.80) and a 5th place finish in the 100 back (1.16.76).

 

            17 year old Michael Strand, despite limited training this spring, reached the wall 2nd in the 100 back with his 1.00.96 swim and in his 50 free sprint of 25.41. Michael was busy all weekend long, placing in finals in all 6 of his event and along the way, added his 10th Sectional level lcm time with his 55.43 time in the 100 free.

 

             13 year old Ryan Sebastian, who won 4 events at this meet last year as a 12 year old, stroked to 2nd place finishes in both the 100 back (1.05.97) and 200 back (2.24.02). Ryan added a 3rd place finish in the 400 IM (5.05.95). In his 6 events, Ryan placed no higher than 7th.

 

            10 year old Michael Tortorella, who turned 11 on Sunday, took full advantage of his last opportunity to compete as a 10 year old by placing 2nd in both the both the 50 (41.72) and the 100 breast (1.34.15) events. Michael’s 100 breast was a Junior Olympic qualifying time in his new age group (11-12s!). Michael also placed 4th in the 50 free (33.75) and the 100 free (1.14.85).

 

            12 year old Kaitlin Stearns finished just behind teammate and training mate Galea in the 50 free with her 29.93 time. Kaitlin was also spectacular in the 100 free (3rd place-1.05.82), 3rd place in the 200 back (2.20.92). Yet Kaitlin’s best swim may have been her 6th place finish in the 400 free, as she dropped 15 seconds to clock a 4.57.05. Kaitlin collected her 12th JO cut with in the 100 fly (1.21.08). Kaitlin’s 100 and 200 free swims were new Zone times (total of 4).

 

            11 year old Alicia Iizuka duplicated her feat of last summer and again qualified for the Eastern Zone meet with her 2rd place finish in the 50 breast (38.74). Alicia finished 5th in the 100 breast (1.26.76).

 

            12 year old Isabel LaRaia stroked to a 3rd place finish in the 50 breast with her 41.34 swim in the 50 breast. 17 year old Adam Weinbrom placed 3rd in the 50 free with his 25.45 time. Adam also placed 8th in the 100 free (56.82).

 

            13 year old Jess Gorham transitioned to the big pool by posting 6 Junior Olympic times in 6 swims. Jess went gold in the 50 free (29.80), 100 free (1.14.81), 200 free (2.20.48), 400 free (4.55.85), 100 back (1.14.81) and the 200 back (2.39.86). Jess’s highest place was 5th (in the 50 free).

 

            9 year old Grace Xu started right from where she left off in short course, going gold in all 6 events she raced in. Grace will swim the 100 free (1.15.83), the 200 free (2.45.39), the 100 back (1.32.27), the 100 breast (1.41.88), 100 fly (1.35.96) and the 200 IM (3.10.43) at JO’s.

 

            10 year old Evan Ng nailed 5 Junior Olympic cuts, starting with his 4th place finish in the 50 fly (38.91). Evan also scored gold in the 50 back (43.09), the 100 back (1.33.75), the 100 free (1.18.94) and the 200 free (2.50.65).

 

            12 year old Caroline Nash posted her 8th, 9th and 10th JO cuts this summer. Caroline’s 4th place in the 50 free (31.50) set the stage for additional JO swims in the 50 back (37.53) and the 200 free (2.26.58).

 

            12 year old Scott Harris also ran up his JO totals, getting 3 more for a total of 8 for the season. Scott was successful in the 200 free (2.31.17), the 400 free (5.18.65) and the 100 back (1.20.80).

 

            10 year old Vivian Xia also grabbed 3 JO swims. Vivian snagged the 100 back (1.31.19), the 100 fly (1.36.64) and the 50 breast (47.71).

 

            10 year old Brandon Li dropped 12 seconds in the 200 IM (3.17.16) along with 9 seconds in the 100 breast (1.46.78) and 5 seconds in the 50 back (42.74) to score 3 Junior Olympic swims.

 

            10 year old Rachel Keselman went home with her first 2 JO cuts of the summer; Rachel was gold in both the 50 breast (47.81) and the 100 breast (1.42.86). Also doubling in the breast was 10 year old Abigail Tsay, whose 46.86 time in the 50 breast and 1.45.70 time in the 100 breast swims place her at JO’s later this summer.

 

            9 year old Brittany Sun also doubled, with JO cuts in her 50 (40.16) and 100 (1.36.10) fly swims.

 

            Single JO qualifiers included:

 

1)      11 year old Jimmy Coyne in the 50 breast (42.41)

2)      13 year old Juliet Felsen in the 100 fly (1.13.15)

3)      11 year old Karen Iizuka in the 50 breast (41.97)

4)      13 year old Isabella Morreale in the 200 breast (3.01.08)

5)      12 year old Christina Pick in the 200 IM (2.52.52)

6)      13 year old Gabrielle Pick in the 100 fly (1.13.97)

7)      12 year old Camille Relota in the 50 free (31.73)

8)      10 year old Katy Shepard in the 100 free (1.20.65)

9)      10 year old Claire Xu in the 100 back (1.32.97)

 

               Full results are posted on the team website.

 

Swimmers who participated (# in parenthesis is number of best Elite LCM best times): Matt Ahlmeyer (1), Chelsea Allocco (3), Chris Balbo (4), Jessica Chu (1), Morgan Conley (2), Jimmy Coyne (1), Anthony Don, Amy Duren, Corey Duren (1), Sam Duren (2), Avinash Duvvuri (6), Priya Duvvuri, Venkatesh Duvvuri (3), Juliet Felsen (6), Katherine Friday (2), Andrea Galea (5), Clio Galea (2), Lindsey Giostra, Emily Gorham (4), Jess Gorham (6), Scott Harris (3), Rachel Hong (1), Andrew Huang (4), Alicia Iizuka (2), Erica Iizuka (1), Karen Iizuka (1), Katie Iovel (2), Rachel Keselman (2), Emmie Lai, Clark LaRaia (3), Isabel LaRaia (5), Brandon Li (5), Michael Li (7), Alex Mango (3), Karl Melchior (1), Ali Morreale, Isabella Morreale (2), Charlotte Morrissey (1), Dan Muro (2), Caroline Nash (6), Maggie Nelson (3), Evan Ng (5), Christina Pick (5), Gabrielle Pick (2), Camile Relota (3), Ryan Sebastian (4), Andrea Shepard (3), Katy Shepard (5), Gian Soriano (4), Kaitlin Stearns (6), Lindsay Stearns (6), Michael Strand (3), Brittany Sun (3), Michael Tortorella (5), Abigail Tsay (2), Caroline Watt (4), Adam Weinbrom (8), Ryan Wyer, Vivian Xia (6), Claire Xu (6), Grace Xu (6) & Richard Yu (2).

 

PRACTICE SCHEDULE CHANGES  IN JUNE:

SUMMIT LCM STARTS TOMORROW FOR SENIOR, SENIOR PREPS & WAVE GOLDS;

 

            Earlier (by several weeks) than most teams, Elite will begin long course training (training in a 50 meter pool, twice the length of MBS) on Tuesday, June 1 at the heated Summit Family Aquatic Center in Summit. Seniors, Senior Preps and Wavebuster Golds will train from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm weekdays at Summit for the next 3 weeks.

 

            On Monday, June 21, Elite will begin its summer schedule practice schedule. Tentative June and July practice schedules are posted on the website under practice schedule.

 

            Besides the obvious benefit of training in a pool the same length as summer competition, habitual training in a long course pool, which venue is more physically challenging, significantly increases a swimmer’s aerobic capacity. Adding 3 additional weeks (14 practices) of long course training stretches Elite’s Seniors and Wave Gold long course training from 5 weeks to 8 weeks. Please note that at least 1 week of any long course training includes tapering, where rest, not conditioning, is the goal of practice. Thus, Elite’s use of the Summit pool virtually doubles the long course training cycle Elite swimmers have. This is a significant advantage these Elite swimmers have over their competition.

 

TOP 10 ALL-TIME LCM TIMES UPDATED:

 

            The Top 10 All-Time Long Course Meter times list has been updated on the team website. Check it out!! Here is the link:http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Top%20Times/top_times_home_page.htm.

 

SUMMER SEASON/PROMOTION SCHEDULE EXPLAINED:

 

            With the Summer now in sight, below is an explanation of how training at Elite will work. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Bill.

 

            For Marlin Teals and Marlin Blacks, the Spring 2010 Season will conclude to Sunday, June 13.

 

            For the Wavebuster Teals, Wavebuster Blacks, Wavebuster Golds, Senior Preps and Seniors, practice will continue thru late July/early August.

 

            Below is a detailed explanation of how each training group will transition. Please note that every existing Elite swimmer will be invited to train with Elite for the Winter 2010-11 Training Session. Each swimmer will receive in mid-June (approximately June 20) a letter inviting them to train with Elite for the Winter 2010-11 Training Season. To accept this invitation, a swimmer needs to mail their $300 deposit check ($300 per swimmer if a multiple swimmer family) to Bill prior to Thursday, July 15. If a swimmer does not mail in their deposit but would like to train with Elite, they will need to tryout for Elite at one of the two Elite tryouts (1st one on Tuesday, July 20st). There is no guarantee a swimmer will regain their roster spot during tryouts-it is NOT automatic. Elite will take the best swimmers at tryouts, regardless of longevity on Elite. To secure a roster spot, one needs to mail in their deposit prior to Thursday, July 15.

 

            Marlin Teals: During the summer, there is no training for Marlin Teals (they should participate for their local swim clubs and shine!!!). Letters regarding which training group a swimmer will be placed in for Winter 2010-11 will be sent in mid-June (including promotions-there will be a few into Marlin Blacks). All Marling Teals will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Thursday, July 15.  

 

            Marlin Blacks:  During the summer, there is no summer training for Marlin Blacks (they should participate for their local swim clubs and shine!!!). Letters regarding which training group a swimmer will be placed in for Winter 2010-11 will be send in mid-June (including promotions-there may be a few into Wavebuster Teals). If a swimmer is promoted into Wavebuster Teals by reason of the June roster letter, that swimmer is invited to train as a Wavebuster Teal this summer (see Wave Teal explanation). If a newly promoted swimmer chooses to train with Elite this summer, they will be entered into summer Championship Meets (see Meet Schedule on website). These swimmers will also be billed a pro-rata rate for their Summer training participation. A promoted swimmer can opt not to train with Elite and it will not affect their status for Winter 2010-11.  All Marlin Blacks will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Thursday, July 15.  

 

Wavebuster Teals:  The Wavebuster Teals have the option to train with Elite this summer at Cromwell Pool (see summer schedule). And in fact, they have paid for this option within their Spring 2010 bill. Swimmers who want to train but have conflicts (vacation, car pools, etc) are strongly encouraged to come to practice whenever they can. Swimmers who come to summer practices will be entered into summer Championship Meets (see Meet Schedule on website). Letters regarding Winter 2010-11 will be send in mid-June. Swimmers whom at that time have earned a promotion into Wavebuster Blacks will receive a letter of promotion in mid June. A promoted swimmer will remain a Wavebuster Teal until the Winter 2010-11 Season. All promotions will be conditional upon continued performance and attendance thru late July. Regardless of placement, swimmers will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Thursday, July 15.   

 

Wavebuster Blacks; Wavebuster Golds, Senior Preps & Seniors:  Swimmers in these training groups are expected to train with Elite during the summer, as participation in these training groups is year round. Swimmers in these training groups will be entered into summer Championship Meets (see Meet Schedule on website). Letters regarding the Winter 2010-11 session will be send in mid-June. A promoted swimmer will remain within their current training group until the Winter 2010-11 Season. All promotions will be conditional upon continued performance and attendance thru late July. Regardless of placement, swimmers will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Thursday, July 15.   

 

39 SWIMMERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT 9th ANNUAL ELITE-A-THON!!

LINDSAY STEARNS COORDINATES LARGEST PARTICIPATION IN YEARS!!

 

The 9th Annual Elite-a-thon fundraiser was the biggest Elite-a-thon in recent memory!! 39 Swimmers spent 2 hours Saturday afternoon swimming to raise money for their own charities!!

 

The following were the Elite swimmers who participated:

 

Chris Balbo: Celiac Sprue Association, Megan Balbo: Make A Wish, Caitlin Brown: Arthritis Foundation, Cordelia Burn: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer, Eloise Burn: St. Judes, Sarah Burn: Jersey Animal Coalition, Carolyn Delaney: PKU News, Kelly Delaney: PKU News, Will Delaney: PKU News, Katherine Friday: Autism Speaks, Emily Fu: Mt Pleasant Animal Shelter, Clio Galea: tba, Emily Gorham: St. Judes, Jess Gorham: St. Judes, Kevin Greener: tba Elana Horowitz: tba, Abby Hartwig: Association for Rare Disorders Jennifer Huo: tba,Alicia Iizuka: Jersey Animal Coalition, Erica Iizuka: Jersey Animal Coalition, Karen Iizuka: Jersey Animal Coalition, Monica Iizuka: Jersey Animal Coalition, Katie Iovel: Make A Wish, Grace Levey: Make A Wish, Alyssa Levy: Valerie Fund, Katie McGrath: Avon Breast Cancer Walk, Ali Morreale: tba, Caroline Nash-Make a Wish, Jason Rossi: American Red Cross, Andrea Shepard: Down the Block, Inc, Katy Shepard: Share Our Strength, Abigail Shvorin: American Cancer Foundation, Delaney Smith: Multiple Sclerosis, Kaitlin Stearns: Bridges, Lindsay Stearns: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer, Will Stearns: Cora Hartshorn Arboretum, Caroline Watt: Make A Wish, Adam Weinbrom: tba, Katherine Zhang: Cora Hartshorn Arboretum

 

14 year old Lindsay Stearns, who has participated in the Elite-a-thon for each of her 7 years on the team, took over coordinating the event this year and mustered a tremendous amount of enthusiasm. If each of the participants raises just $150 each, the total raised will exceed $5,000. This shows what the power of enthusiasm can accomplish!!

 

In a tradition begun six years ago, Bill swam 2500 meters to raise money for the American Red Cross’s relief efforts in Haiti, following the devastating earthquake Haiti suffered this past winter.

 

TENTATIVE JUNE AND JULY SCHEDULES NOW POSTED:

 

            Since Elite utilizes 5 separate pools for practices in June and July, tentative schedules are now posted to provide membership with advanced information as to the practice schedule. The link is: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Practice%20Schedule/homepage%20practice.htm.

 

            Please be sure to check the 3 week schedule on a regular basis for updated information.

 

DIRECTIONS TO CROMWELL POOL NOW POSTED:

 

            Elite has contracted with the Cromwell Pool, located in Morristown (off Columbia Turnpike/Columbia Turnpike) to rent their pool during the summer mornings for the Wavebuster Teals-Believers 3 training group. Elite will be renting the Cromwell Pool Monday thru Thursday, from 7:15 am to 8:30 am. In addition, the Wavebuster Teals-Believer 3’s have one scheduled practice a week in the long course pool at Springfield (Sunday mornings 6:30 am to 8:15 am).

           

            The directions, along with directions to Summit Municipal and Springfiled Municipal are located on the team website at: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Practice%20Schedule/homepage%20practice.htm         

 

            The summer schedule for the remaining groups will remain the same (with the slight alteration of an earlier start time and 15 minutes longer per practice at MBS for Wavebuster Blacks-Believers 2 on Monday’s, Wednesday’s and Friday’s. The schedule from June 21 thru July 31 is now posted on the team website under practice schedule. http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Practice%20Schedule/homepage%20practice.htm

 

SOMERSET PATRIOTS HONOR US (SWIMMERS!!!):

PUT JUNE 28TH ON YOUR CALENDAR!!!

BUY SEATS IN SECTION 217!!! & PRIOR TO JUNE 8 FOR DISCOUNT;

 

            The Somerset Patriots, a local professional Minor League Baseball team, will be honoring Swimmers this summer with a special night at the ballpark! On Monday June 28, the Patriots will be holding Swim Night at their home park in Bridgewater, New Jersey (just off Route 287 South).

 

            The night will be dedicated to a swim theme. The Patriots will provide a special appearance by a well known swimmer, scoreboard recognition & public address announcement to each NJ swim team that participates, a pre-game parade and multiple opportunities for participate in on-field activities.

 

            Given the complexity of trying to coordinate getting seats together, Elite Swim Club members should buy seats directly from the Patriots in Section 217. That way, Elite parents and children can sit in close proximity to each other!!! Buying the tickets prior to June 8 will provide a discount on the tickets!!!

 

            In recognition of this night, Elite will cancel the 4 pm-6 pm practice at MBS on Monday, June 28 so swimmers and their families are free to attend this event.

 

WITH MEETS ON THE HORIZON; NEW TIMING COORDINATORS WILL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU

 

            Parents of Elite swimmers are asked to add the following four email addresses to your e-mail address book to ensure you receive important information regarding Elite Hosted Meets, Timing Information for all other meets and Parent Association Information.  Adding the e-mail addresses will insure that these important e-mails do not go to your junk/spam folder.

 

Carolyn Balbo -                     cbalbo@comcast.net

Sanjeeta Mukherjee -            sanjumukhe@gmail.com         

Sue Duren -                            sueduren@aol.com

Antone Balbo -                      abalbo@comcast.net

           

TENTATIVE SPRING/SUMMER MEET SCHEDULE POSTED:

           

            The tentative Spring/Summer Meet Schedule is now posted on the team website. The link is: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Meet%20Schedule/homepage.htm.

 

            This schedule is “tentative” in that Elite, will attempt to compete in the non-championship meets (Summer Solstice, Summer Sizzle & Friday Night) but could be shut out of these meets.

 

            Elite will definitely compete in a meet hosted by Tidal Wave of Union in early to mid May (short course & for Wave Teals-Believers 3, Marlin Blacks-Explorers 2 and Marlin Teals-Explorers 1). Elite has already entered Memorial Day meet (meet and event information posted on the website) and will co-host the Tiger Challenge thus guaranteeing participation. All teams are accepted into the championship meets.

           

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!!!