ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 06-01-09
SMALL BUT DETERMINED GROUP RAISES MONEY FOR THEIR CHARITY
DURING 8TH ELITE-A-THON :
C. BALBO, M. BALBO, T. DEATLY, A. GALEA, C. GALEA, J. LOWE, S.
LOWE, C. RELOTA, K. SHEPARD, K. STEARNS, L. STEARNS AND W. STEARNS PARTICIPATE:
12
Elite swimmers and a coach participated in the 8th annual
Elite-a-thon fundraiser last Saturday, May 30th at Morristown-Beard.
The small number of Elite swimmers did not dampen the enthusiasm or the
importance of their cause.
Like all past “Elite-a-thons,” this year’s event was structured so each individual participating raised money for the “charity of their choice.”
The following Elite swimmers participated: Chris Balbo (Celiac Sprue Association), Megan Balbo (Make a Wish Foundation), Tad Deatly (Swim Across America –Richard Quick), Andrea Galea (American Cancer Society), Clio Galea (American Cancer Society), Jessie Lowe (American Diabetes Association), Sarah Lowe (American Diabetes Association), Camile Relota (Dali Lama Foundation), Katy Shepard (Make a Wish Foundation), Kaitlin Stearns (Bridges), Lindsay Stearns (Susan B. Komen-Breast Cancer) & Will Stearns (Cora Hartshorn Arboretum).
Totals of the fundraising will be including in the upcoming weekly memos. Anyone interested in supporting any of these swimmers can still do so (just contact them or Head Coach Bill Deatly).
In a tradition begun five years ago, Head Coach Bill Deatly also swam to
raise money for his yearly charity. Limited due to his recent leg infection,
Bill still managed to swim 2500 meters (50 x 50 meters on 1:00). This year,
Bill is raising money to support Richard Quick’s Cancer Research. Quick is one
of the legends of the sport of swimming, whom has coached Auburn University,
Stanford University and University of Texas to NCAA National Champions along
with being a 5 time USA Olympic Coach. Quick is currently stricken with an
inoperable & cancerous brain tumor.
The Seniors and Senior Preps will be sponsoring Bill (and anyone else is
strongly encouraged!).
TOO BUSY RAISING MONEY FOR DIABETES TO PARTICIPATE IN ELITE-A-THON,
MICHAEL TORTORELL HONORED AT TOUR DE CURE IN BRIELLE,
COACH BECKY MARCELLIANO GOES EXTRA 65 MILES FOR TORTORELLA; LOWES
BACK THEIR BUDDY;
Elite Swimmer Michael Tortorella was simply too busy Saturday
to participate in the Elite-a-thon; instead he was American Diabetes
Association’s 2009 Youth Ambassador of the Jersey Shore Tour de Cure held in
Brielle.
Tortorella, who was honored because he sets a great example
for kids with diabetes (diagnosed when he was 3), even cut the starting ribbon for
the 65 mile ride. In addition to riding the last 5 years with a group of his “Bolus
Buddies”, Michael has raised over $60,000 for research over the years and has
remained athletic (obviously, his Junior Olympic accomplishments as a 9 year
old this year in 5 events being significant) and his baseball playing. Michael’s
example is that anyone can attack a disability, even thrive in the face of a
disability.
In a publicity photo and article, Michael is seen
wearing his Elite Junior Olympic T-shirt and mentions that swimming everyday at
Elite has made him a stronger individual.
Coach Becky Marcelliano supported Michael by actually
riding in the 65 mile Tour de Cure to raise money for Michael and his cause!!!
In addition, Elite swimmers Jessie and Sarah Lowe, who participated in the
Elite-a-thon are honoring their friend by raising money for American Diabetes
Association and contributing to Michael’s totals!!! Great teamwork guys!!!
To top it off, yesterday was Michael’s 10th
birthday! And after the Tour, Michael returned home to participate in a Chatham
Rec baseball game, where he hit a bases loaded triple!!
Fairy tale days do happen, even without Hollywood!!!
LCM EASTERN ZONES MEET TO BE AT
PENN STATE UNIVERSITY;
After
almost a year of no LSC (NJ Swimming is an LSC) bidding on the 2009 Long Course
Meter Eastern Zones All-Star Championship Meet, Mid-Atlantic Swimming has
stepped up and will host this Summer’s LCM Zones Meet at Penn State University.
This meet is the most prestigious
meet a 12 & Under swimmer can qualify for. In the summer, swimmers qualify
for this meet thru qualifying times (in the Winter Season, NJ Swimming picks
the 2 fastest swimmers in each event). Last summer, Elite has 19 different
qualifiers in 67 events. 11 Elite swimmers participated (swimmers 13 &
Older don’t always attend). Zone qualifying times are posted on the Elite
website.
Penn State University offers a 8
lane, 50 meter outdoor pool that is adjacent to their three 25 yard indoor
pools. The meet will be contested long course.
Mid-Atlantic Swimming has indicated they
may require other LSC’s to help staff the volunteer jobs at the meet, in order
to successfully run the meet. If your child attends this meet, you may be
requested by NJ or Mid-Atlantic Swimming to help run the meet.
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 2009 Season will conclude to Friday, June 12.
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 Fall 2009 Training Session.
Each swimmer will receive in mid-June a letter inviting them to train with
Elite for the Fall 2009 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 Saturday, July 11. 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 21st).
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 Saturday, July 11.
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 Fall 2009 will be send in mid-June (including
promotions-there may be a few into Marlin Blacks). All Marling Teals will need
to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Saturday, July
11.
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 Fall 2009 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). This 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 Fall, 2009. All Marlin
Blacks will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by
Saturday, July 14.
Wavebuster Teals: The Wavebuster Teals have the option to
train with Elite this summer at Morristown-Beard School & Springfield (see
summer schedule). And in fact, they have paid for this option within their
Spring 2009 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 Fall 2009 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 Fall 2009
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 Saturday, July 11.
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 Fall 2009 session
will be send in mid-June. A promoted swimmer will remain within their current
training group until the Fall 2009 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 Saturday, July 11.
Eric Scheingoltz, Head Coach & Aquatic Director of Drew University’s
Varsity Swim Teams has coordinated a one day swim camp that will feature
Olympians Matt Grevers, Megan Jenrick and Lacey Nymeyer for Saturday, October
17, 2009 at the Simon Forum/ F. M. Kirby Pool on the Drew University Campus.
Grevers
placed 2nd to Aaron Piersol in the 100 m backstroke at the 2008
Beijing Olympics. Jenrick, formerly know as Megan Quann, was an Olympian
representing USA in the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Nymeyer was part of the 2008
Olympic team and is a world record holder in 800 m free relay.
Additional information and reservations can now be made at http://swimchampions.com/detail/madison-nj/.
ITS OFFICIAL, THEY HAVE NOW THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING: THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SWIM MOMS!!:
According to an email Bill
received this week, there will be a launching in the Summer 2009 of a website
designed specifically for the swimming family by an organization called The
National Association of Swim Moms. Check out the two minute video at www.NAOSM.org. We all can relate.
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.
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!!!