ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 06-11-07

RETRO SWIMMING: KIDS RACE UNDER 1960’S CONDITONS!!:

In a bit of retro-style swimming, the three Wavebuster training groups competed in a long course intraclub meet under conditions not seen since the 1960’s. Despite these conditions, Elite swimmers hung tough, were impressive in their efforts and posted excellent times.

In the response of being shut out of the Long Course Cup Meet, Elite held the intraclub meet to get LCM times on as many swimmers as possible. Swimmers competed without starting blocks, with 3 lanes lines delineating 5 lanes and with backstroke flags that were placed where they could stand rather than at the standard 5 meter mark. Even under these conditions, the Elite swimmers acted and competed in an “Elite” manner. Since two New Jersey Officials were present at each session, Elite will use these times to enter swimmers in meets thru the summer season.

Swimmers who participated were (# in parathesis is # of best LCM times): Arlynn Baer (3), Chris Balbo (6), Lindsay Behar (4), Nicole Blum (2), Meg Brosnan (1), John Burns (5), Taylor Campolattaro (6), Brannon Cho (2), Alli Dorneo (6), Corey Duren (3), Sam Duren, Krishna Duvvuri (6), Helena Elston (2), Maya Epelbam (5), Kristen Fedor (2), Juliet Felsen (3), Emilie Ferguson (3), Andrea Ferrell (5), Katie Golway (3), Katie Gorman (4), Lydia Gracey (2), Rachel Greene (3), Andre Guacelli (2), Julia Guacelli (3), Payton Hakes (3), Emma Harris (5), Raleigh Heap (6), Brent Jones (2), Zackie Katz (5), Brandon King (4), Regan Kology (5), Emmie Lai (1), Aaron Levin (3), Jessie Lowe (3), Katie McGrath (3), Sarah McGrath, Brendan Miller-Radest (2), Kara Miller-Radest (3), Isabella Morreale (2), Madison Munoz (1), Dan Muro (5), Julia Muro (4), Caroline Nash (4), Rebecca Niccolai (1), Dara O’Gorman (4), Evan O’Hara (6), Nick Pachiolo (3), Gabrielle Pick (2), Michelle Pick (2), Collin Reilly, Andrea Shepard (5), Bethany Stachenfeld (2), Kaitlin Stearns (4), Lindsay Stearns (3), Erica Takahashi (3), Lexi Tedesco, Rachel Tortorella (4), Caroline Watt (6), Sarah Weinbrom (4), Natalie Wetmore (4), Maggie Woodruff (4) & Richard Yu (5).

NJ SWIMMING CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH LCM MEETS;

ELITE LEADS WAY WITH “ELITE” BEHAVIOR:

The sudden surge of interest in long course competition has left New Jersey Swimming scrambling to provide its membership with LCM competition options.

A combination of events has created this situation: 1) a significant increase interest by most NJ Swim Clubs in Long Course Competition-directly related to the increase in quality of New Jersey Swimming in the past few years 2) a shortage of long course pools where competitions can be held in the tri-state area 3) Rutgers University’s inability to provide their facility week after week for competition and 4) by its very definition, long course meters can only provide swims for half as many swimmers as short course yards pools configured into 2 competition pools.

These changes have made it increasingly difficult for New Jersey Swimming to provide its members with adequate long course meters competition.

The latest case in point is the meet Summer Solstice. Even with a “New Jersey First” clause in the meet announcement, which gave NJ Swim Clubs an advantage in entering the meet, this meet was filled within 1 day of the meet announcement being posted on New Jersey Swimming’s website. Luckily, Elite was within the first batch of 15 teams that were accepted into the meet; however 10 NJ teams did not make it in, despite many having their entries sent within 48 hours of the posting!

As newly elected Administrative Chairperson of New Jersey Swimming, Bill has been thrust into the forefront of this issue. He, along with others, are working on ways to solve both the short term lcm crisis and the long term planning to help avoid, or at least ease, this situation next summer.

As all Elite members know, Elite was “closed out” of Long Course Cup Competition, despite having their entries in within 4 days of the meet being posted on New Jersey website. Thus, we know 1^st hand how frustrating being closed out of a meet is, despite acting in a responsible manner in getting our meet entries in and within a timely manner. Elite was able to provide it swimmers with an alternative; the lcm intraclub meet it held last week. This meet provided Elite Wavebuster swimmers with an opportunity to compete long course and provided Elite coaches with times to help with the entry process for the championship lcm season. Not all clubs have this option.

In order to help ease the current Summer Solstice meet situation, Elite has voluntarily chosen to reduce its entries in the meet. Elite has reduced each of its swimmers to a total of 4 swims during the two-day meet. The revised entry list is now posted on Elite’s website. Consideration was taken as to what events an Elite swimmer is most likely to have success in. This action alone has provided enough room for 1 of the 10 previously excluded teams to now compete in this meet.

As Administrative Chair, Bill has requested the remaining 14 teams to consider voluntarily paring down their entries, again with the possibility that this will provide opportunities for swimmers within the “close out 10” NJ teams an opportunity to compete in the meet. A second team, host Hamilton YMCA immediately agreed to reduce its entries. Hopefully, this will allow a second of the 10 teams to compete.

As Elite Club members, we hold ourselves to a higher standard in our behavior. We should all to be proud of ourselves in this bit of selflessness action!! Once again, we live up to our name.

LCM TIME STANDARDS UPDATED:

New Jersey Swimming has provided the Long Course Gold & Silver Time Standards this week. These standards are now posted on the Elite Website under Time Standards.

ESCPO PRESIDENT MOYA CHEW-LAI AWARDED FOR ELITE VOLUNTEER WORK, MONEY GOES TO ESCPO:

Moya Chew-Lai, who was elected President of ESCPO at the March Awards Banquet, has received a $250 award from her employer Prudential for her volunteer work on behalf of Elite.

The award was part of Prudential’s CARES Volunteer Grant program. In addition to the cash award to the organization Moya respresents, Moya will receive a certificate recognizing her valuable work.

COACH LEIGHANN TO OFFER TUTORING AT MBS:

Coach Leighann Marcelliano will now be offering private swim technique lessons to Wavebuster (Gold, Black and Teal) level Elite Swimmers only.

Leighann will not be offering this to swimmers outside of Elite or outside of these training groups.

Leighann has secured a contract with Morristown Beard so all lessons will be held at MBS, and swimmers will sign an insurance contract with Leighann before participating. While working with Elite swimmers, this tutoring school is independent of Elite in every capacity.

The swimmer will decide what swim topics will be covered. It is suggested that a swimmer get a group of friends together and sign up in groups of 2-4

kids, although this is not required. Swimmers who want to sign up and have Leighann place them in an appropriate group based on topic and ability are

welcome to do so.

Pool time is very limited and all swimmers will be scheduled on a first come first serve basis, so email Leighann directly and early to set up

times. Most times available will be from 6:15-7:15 AM weekdays, with the possibility of very few lessons offered in the afternoons or on weekends.

These time slots will change in late June when Elite begins its early morning training at Springfield, thus Leighann will not be available during

the summer at that time.

Swimmers who are interested in technique lessons should contact Leighann directly through email first, (yan98@aol.com) and give Leighann a

number where she can call back to schedule lessons. Any questions should be directed to Leighann through email or phone (973-214-5340).

STUDY PRACTICE SCHEDULE CLOSELY AS WE TRANSITION INTO SUMMER SCHEDULE:

As we transition from our Spring practice schedule to our Summer practice schedule, the practice times and venues change radically during the next two weeks (various pools are not available). Please pay close attention to the practice schedule on a daily basis and please make no assumptions. Check the schedule!!!

SUMMER SEASON/PROMOTION SCHEDULE EXPLAINED:

With the Summer Session 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, Marlin Blacks and Wavebuster Teals, the Spring 2007 Season has been extended to Friday, June 15. There will be no practice the preceding weekend (Saturday, June 9 & Sunday, June 10 for these training groups. Wave Teals will have the option to train with Elite this summer (more on that later in this article).

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

Marlin Teals: the Spring 2007 Season has been extended to Friday, June 15. There will be no practice the preceding weekend (Saturday, June 9 & Sunday, June 10). There is no summer 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 2008 will be send in mid-June (including promotions-there may be a few into Marlin Blacks). Swimmers will need to send in their $200 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Saturday, July 14.

Marlin Blacks: the Spring 2007 Season has been extended to Friday, June 15. There will be no practice the preceding weekend (Saturday, June 9 & Sunday, June 10). 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 2008 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 whatever meet we can enter the swimmer in at such a late date. Swimmers will need to send in their $200 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Saturday, July 14.

Wavebuster Teals: the Spring 2007 Season has been extended to Friday, June 15. There will be no practice the preceding weekend (Saturday, June 9 & Sunday, June 10). The Wavebuster Teals have the option to train with Elite this summer at Morristown-Beard School & Springfield (see summer schedule). Wave Teals who anticipate training with Elite should email Leighann to inform her they plan to train with Elite this summer. Swimmers who indicate they will train with Elite this summer will be placed in any meet they can be placed in. Swimmers who want to train but have conflicts (vacation, car pools, etc) are strongly encouraged to come to practice whenever they can. Letters regarding Fall 2008 will be send in mid-June. Swimmers whom at that time have earned a promotion into Wavebuster Blacks will receive a letter of promotion at that time. Those swimmers will instantly become Wavebuster Blacks and will be expected to train with the Wavebuster Blacks from that point forward this summer. In addition, some Wavebuster Teals could earn a promotion into the Wavebuster Blacks thru their practice and performance this summer and be notified of that promotion in mid-late July. These swimmers would become Wavebuster Blacks starting with the Fall 2008 session. Regardless of placement, all swimmers will need to send in their $200 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Saturday, July 14.

Wavebuster Blacks; Wavebuster Golds, Senior Preps & Seniors: Swimmers in these training groups are expected to train with Elite this summer. Swimmers in these training groups will be placed in meets thoughout the summer. Letters regarding the Fall 2008 session will be send in mid-June. However, no swimmer in these training groups will be promoted for the Fall 2008 Session until mid-late July. Regardless of placement, swimmers will need to send in their $200 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Saturday, July 14.

WINTER 2007-08 PRACTICE SCHEDULE TO CHANGE; MORE TIME SLOTTED FOR MARLINS & WAVE GOLDS; SCHEDULE POSTED UNDER PRACTICE SCHEDULE:

In its never ending pursuit of using the allotted pool time as efficiently as possible, Elite will have a new practice schedule starting September 2008. The practice schedule is now posted on the team website under Practice Schedule. The schedule changes allows Elite to offer significantly more pool time to 3 of the 5 Age Group Training Groups training at Newark Academy.

The Marlin Blacks and the Marlin Teals will now practice at the same time on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. In keeping with its policy of never having more than 36 swimmers in a training group, the total number of swimmers between the two groups will never exceed 36. By using the pool for both training groups simultaneously, both groups will be offered 4 practices a week for a total of 3.75 hours. In addition, the Marlins will start 15 minutes early from Sept thru November 15 (5:00 pm) so they can get a full hour of practice when the pool is available.

The Wavebuster Gold training group will also gain practice time. Currently, the Wave Golds have 10 hours of practice a week. Under the current schedule, when a swimmer earns a promotion from the Wave Golds to the Senior Preps, the amount of practice time jumps to 17 hours a week. The change in the practice schedule will better prepare the Wave Golds for this expanded practice time as a Senior Prep.