ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 06-14-10
“Cultivating Excellence in Academics, Character and Swimming”
ATTENDANCE
STATS STRONG THRU SPRING SESSION; 4 OF 7 TRAINING
GROUPS AVERAGING 80% OR HIGHER
Swimmers
and Parents are reminded that only swimmers with 75% attendance records will be
considered for promotion into the next higher training group this spring (Wave
Golds need 85% attendance to be considered for promotion into the Senior Prep
training group).
Senior Preps: Juliet Felsen, Lindsey Giostra*,
Jess Gorham*, Brent Jones, Gregory Macchia*, Jonas Singer*, Caroline Watt*
WHAT IS IN A NAME? APPARENTLY PLENTY:
TRAINING GROUP NAMES
TO REMAIN THE SAME:
A near unanimous dislike, from swimmers, coaches and parents, for the new training group names has persuaded Coach Bill to abandon his renaming of the training groups. From this point on, Elite training groups will continue to be named: Seniors, Senior Preps, Wavebuster Golds, Wavebuster Blacks, Wavebuster Teals, Marlin Blacks and Marlin Teals.
SWIMMING & TAILGATING:
NOW THAT’S A COMBO!
ESCPO PLANNING TAILGATE
THIS SATURDAY AT RUTGERS:
ESCPO is planning a Tailgate/Potluck for this Saturday's (June 19) Summer Solstice meet at Rutgers. All ESC Swimmers and Parents are welcome and encouraged to stop by!!
ESCPO plans to set up a table and canopy off in the grassy area near the Rutgers Pool entrance by around 11:00-11:30 (toward the end of the 13&O Session) and run until around 3:00 (the 2nd Warm-up for the 12&U session). ESCPO will provide Pulled Pork as the main course as well as buns, BBQ sauce, plates and napkins. Interested parents are asked to bring a side, a snack or a dessert. Please bring your own drinks or purchase them from the Rutgers concession stand.
Please RSVP to Antone Balbo at abalbo@comcast.net to let him know that you are planning to attend and what you would like to bring. Those who respond should also expect an email directly from Antone early this week.
ELITE AWARDED LEVEL
1 CLUB RECOGNITION STATUS BY USA SWIMMING;
USA Swimming has recognized the Elite Swim Club as a Level 1 Club within its Club Recognition Program. Only 8 teams within NJ Swimming (out of 60) are at this level: Berkeley Aquatic Club, Eastern Express, Elite, Peddie Aquatic Association, Princeton Piranhas, Somerset Valley Y, Wyckoff Y and X-Cel Swimming. USA Swimming has 4 levels of club recognition.
As a result, Elite will proudly display USA Swimming’s Level 1 Recognition logo on its website and on its letterhead. USA Swimming has already added the Level 1 Recognition logo to its website when a person searches out information regarding Elite: search for Elite at this link: http://www.usaswimming.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=1802&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en.
The Club Recognition Program is one of two programs USA Swimming provides recognizing clubs: the other is the Club Excellence Program. Up to this point, Elite has not participated in either program. Elite expects to provide documentation for the Club Excellence Program this winter, and be recognized within that program also.
USA Swimming’s recognition of Elite as a Level 1 team recognizes the careful planning and implementation of Elite’s strategy as a swim club developing swimmers as well as recognizing Elite as an ongoing business. In order to receive this recognition, Head Coach Bill Deatly and full time Coach Patty Martin (frankly, Coach Patty spearheaded and coordinated Elite’s effort!) spent dozens of hours preparing and providing documents to USA Swimming describing Elite’s structure and how Elite does what it does at each level within its program. Elite’s ultimate presentation provided USA Swimming with more earned “points” than the minimum requirement for Level 1 Recognition.
Parents and swimmers may have noticed Elite’s recently revised Mission Statement (prominently featured on the website and at the top of this weekly bulletin). This revised Mission Statement is a direct result of the Club Recognition process. Elite’s Mission Statement now precisely and concisely describes Elite’s mission as a professional organization.
Coach Bill and Coach Patty are already hard at work with their preparation for Level 2 Recognition (Elite has already earned more than 85% of the points needed for Level 2 recognition). Although it is expected that Elite will shortly surpass the minimum “points” required for Level 2 recognition, Elite will not obtain this recognition level until a seldom offered but required course is taken by Coach Bill (hopefully this coming fall).
PRACTICE SCHEDULE CHANGES
IN JUNE:
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.
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 RAISE $3,868.50 (SO FAR) AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT 9th
ANNUAL ELITE-A-THON!! LINDSAY STEARNS COORDINATES LARGEST PARTICIPATION IN
YEARS!! DELANEY SMITH RAISES $1,100!!!
IF YOU HAVE NOT YET RESPONDED, PLEASE EMAIL LINDSAY STEARNS WITH
YOUR TOTALS!!!
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!! At the moment, the team totals with 21 swimmers
reporting, the team total stands at $3,868.50!!! 8 year old Delaney Smith
raised $1,100 on her own! Way to go Delaney!!!!
If
you have not yet responded, please email Lindsay Stearns at mailto:Lindsay
Stearns (Lindsaystearns14@yahoo.com) with your numbers!!
The
following were the Elite swimmers who participated:
Chris
Balbo: $300 Celiac Sprue Association, Megan Balbo: $300: Make A Wish, Caitlin
Brown: Arthritis Foundation, Cordelia Burn: $100 Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer,
Eloise Burn: $100 St. Judes, Sarah Burn: $100 Jersey Animal Coalition, Carolyn
Delaney: $50 PKU News, Kelly Delaney: $50 PKU News, Will Delaney: $50 PKU News,
Katherine Friday: Autism Speaks, Emily Fu: $27.50 Mt Pleasant Animal Shelter,
Clio Galea: tba, Emily Gorham: St. Judes, Jess Gorham: St. Judes, Kevin
Greener: tba Abby Hartwig: Association for Rare Disorders Elana Horowitz: tba, Jennifer
Huo: $36 for Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, 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: $50 Make A Wish, Alyssa Levy: Valerie Fund, Katie McGrath: $200 Avon
Breast Cancer Walk, Ali Morreale: tba, Caroline Nash-Make a Wish, Jason Rossi: $25
American Red Cross, Andrea Shepard: $150 Down the Block, Inc, Katy Shepard: $150
Share Our Strength, Abigail Shvorin: American Cancer Foundation, Delaney Smith:
Multiple Sclerosis, Kaitlin Stearns: $200 Bridges, Lindsay Stearns: $200 Susan
G. Komen Breast Cancer, Will Stearns: $200 Cora Hartshorn Arboretum, Caroline
Watt: $50 Make A Wish, Adam Weinbrom: tba, Katherine Zhang: $150 Cora Hartshorn
Arboretum. Coach Bill also raised $230 for American Red Cross.
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.
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!!!