ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               6-09-08

 

ELITE’S ALEX MORRISON NAMED VALEDICTORIAN OF UNION COUNTY BY THE STAR LEDGER!!

 

            Elite’s Senior Alex Morrison, a recent graduate of Oratory Preparatory School in Summit, has been named by the Star Ledger as the Valedictorian of Union County. Alex, who is heading to Princeton University in the fall, was selected by the Star Ledger in a comparison of each Valedictorian of each high school within Union County.   

 

            As amazing as this award is, it is important to also note the following about Alex: 1) he is actually a year younger than his peers, he skipped a grade in middle school  2) he posted Junior Nationals swimming times, becoming only the 2nd Elite swimmer to do so  3) he is a musician (trumpet player) and 4) he attained the Eagle Scout ranking in Boy Scouts!!! Alex also scored a perfect 2400 on his SAT’s and will be a winner of USA Swimming’s Scholar Athlete Award.

 

            Planning on studying science and math at Princeton, Alex also expects to compete at the Varsity Swimming level for Coach Rob Orr.

 

            Morrison is actually the 2nd Elite swimmer to earn this very prestigious award; 3 years ago Alex Denby of Governor Livingston High School was named by the Star Ledger as the Valedictorian of Union County that year. Alex is currently studying biology at Cornell University.

 

THREE WEEKS, 3 DIFFERENT SCHEDULES;

NO DOUBLES, NO MAKE-UPS, DO NOT MISS SCHOOL FOR PRACTICE:

 

            With the loss of the Morristown Beard Pool for this week, Elite will have 3 separate practice schedules during the following 3 weeks. Please check the website for practices.  Because of this situation, several Elite procedures need to be altered to accommodate the lack of pool space.

 

In all instances, Elite is NOT promoting missing school to attend morning practice!!!! Academics first, practice second!!!

 

            When there are 2 practices offered to the same training group on the same day (am & pm), swimmers are NOT to swim at both (no doubles). Providing the two practices is meant to ease the expected crowding situation at the evening practice, when most swimmers are expected. All swimmers are invited to the morning practices if it does not interfere with school.  From June 7th thru June 22, there are to be no make-ups. We simply can’t accommodate the additional swimmers when there are already 3 or 4 different training groups using the pool simultaneously.

 

PHASE 2 OF “OPERATION THRIVAL:  PHASE 2: SUMMER TEAM CLINICS:

  

            In order to help swimmers and parents who are interested in Elite, the team has added a separate “Interested Swimmer” homepage to help provide information an Interested Swimmer would need in making a choice to train at Elite.

 

            With the need to draw new and beginner level swimmers into the program (so we can develop them like we have with our current 9-12 year olds), Bill has dubbed this effort “Operation Thrival.” Combining the words thrive and survival aptly gives the effort the right label; for Elite to survive but also to continue to thrive, the club needs new blood at the lowest levels of the program.

 

            In addition to the new webpage, Bill will be providing clinics to local swim clubs this summer. Many parents have reached out to Bill regarding this, and Bill will be in touch shortly in coordinating these clinics.

 

23 MEMBERS SWIM FOR CHARITY IN  TEAM’S 7th ANNUAL ELITE-A-THON,

MANY RAISE $ FOR CROHN’S IN THANKS TO LEIGHANN; $2,104 ACCOUNTED FOR:

           

Twenty-one Elite swimmers swam up to 2 hours in the 7th Annual Elite-a-thon fundraiser. 

 

Like all past “Elite-a-thons,” this year’s event was structured so each individual participating will be raising money for the “charity of their choice.” At this moment, swimmers totals are at $2,104!!!

 

Those who participated were: Chris Balbo, Megan Balbo, Tad Deatly, Andy Fresen, Andrea Ferrell, Erika Fresen, Andrea Galea & Clio Galea ($189 for Chrohns), Alyssa Hartigan,  Greg Keiser, Emmie Lai, Jesse Lowe, Sarah Lowe, Daniela Manzi, Marisa Manzi, Dan Muro, Darragh O’Gorman ($455 for Chrohns), Mikala Quinn, Brittany Ross, Kaitlin Stearns ($250 for Bridges Outreach), Lindsay Stearns ($300 for Susan Komen for Breast Cancer), Will Stearns ($250 for Cora Hartshorn Arboretum), Michael Strand, Michael Tortorella, Rachel Tortorella .  

 

In a tradition begun four years ago, Bill swim 2000 yards (40 x 50 on 2:00) to raise money for his yearly charity. This year, Bill raised $660 to help research on Crohn’s Disease, the illness inflicting Coach Leighann Marcelliano. All of Bill’s money will be pledged to Maya Epelbaum, who is also raising money for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America by participating in a walk-a-thon on May 18, 2008 at College of St. Elizabeth’s in New Jersey (Elite swimmers who also wish to walk with Maya should contact her at swimster633@yahoo.com ).

 

Tad Deatly, this year’s event coordinator, will compile information regarding how much money was raised and to what charities the money helped. That information will be in the next few memos.

 

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!!! If you do not see what you need, email Bill at eliteswimclubnj@comcast.net