ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               06-26-06

 

CHRIS B. GOODE:

DART BECOMES THE 1ST ELITE JUNIOR NATIONAL QUALIFIER: 

 

         Thru hard work, focus on stroke technique and a tremendous desire to race, Chris Dart became the 1st Junior National Qualifier in Elite history on Saturday. Competing in preliminary session, Chris rocketed to a 1.00.10 time in his specialty the 100 meter backstroke. The time is more than 2 seconds faster than the 13-14 age group state record Chris set last summer!!!

 

            Summer Sizzle is a true championship meet held at the beginning of the summer training season. It provides swimmers an opportunity to get “qualifying times” for championship meets in July. However, because of the extremely short long course training cycle, it is very hard for a swimmer to earn these national/regional cuts (long course training and competing is generally considered much more difficult). Thus, Chris’s feat is even more impressive and allows him to train the entire summer with a fixed goal (rather than having to qualify late in the cycle and right before the meet).

 

            Being the aggressive swimmer that he is, Chris attacked his race right from the start. His 1st 50 was clocked in a 28.88, which was faster than his 29.10 time last week when he competed in a rarely contested 50 meter back race. Chris tired on the back end but knowing that the hard summer work is just starting, Chris is confident that he will improve the back end thru his hard work in the next few weeks.

 

            In addition to his 100 back, Chris also placed 5th in the 200 back (2.15.62), 6th in the 50 free (25.79) and 9th in the 400 IM (4.52.93). Chris’s preliminary swim in the 200 IM placed him 2nd (2.16.02) and his 100 fly (1.01.82) placed him 9th. However, Chris scratched from finals in both these events.

 

            In addition to Chris, Austin Meszaros also “finaled” in his specialties: sprint freestyle. Austin placed 5th in the 50 free (25.79) and 12th in the 100 (57.67) free.

 

            Swimmers who participated were: Danielle Basile, Crissy Condus (1), Chris Dart (7), Corey Deatly, Cassandra Farnow, Julianne Furdyna (1), Austin Meszaros (1) and Kayla Wolonsky (1).

             

PRACTICE REGARDLESS OF WEATHER:

 

       From this date forward this summer, regardless of the weather (including thunderstorms), there will be practice at both Springfield and Morristown-Beard. Swimmers should pack "gym" clothes, as the team will perform dryland exercises at both facilities if the weather does not permit us to swim.

 

SENIOR & SENIOR PREPS: WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH LANE LINES AFTER AM-SPRINGFIELD PRACTICE!!!

 

            In order to train long course, Bill needs to set up and break down the Springfield pool each day. Since “many hands make a large job small,” the Seniors and Senior Preps are requested to help break down the pool (the swimmers do NOT need to come to help set up).

 

            Each training group will take a full week (and it will be posted on the website practice schedule). Seniors will take the rest of this week while Senior Preps will take next week. Each swimmer within the appointed training group will be required to clean up unless they speak directly with Bill.

 

            In advance, Bill says “thanks for your help.”

 

FARNOW ACCEPTED TO STUDY IN SWITZERLAND:

 

Cassandra Farnow, who earned an Elite Gold Award for academic and swimming excellence last winter, is about to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime academic and athletic experience in Switzerland.

 

One of 30 students chosen nationwide (acceptance was based upon both excellent academic and athletic achievements-sound familiar???), Farnow (who is a sophomore at Morristown-Beard School and an Elite Senior), will be part of Swiss Semester which is a “coeducational program of academic, personal and physical challenge for high school sophomores from the finest independent and public schools in the United States. Swiss Semester’s campus is in Zermott, Switzerland (the base of the Matterhorn Mountain in the Alps!!).”

 

Cassandra will attend a single semester (lasting from Sept 1 to Dec 15). While in Switzerland and along with her intense academic load, Cassandra will be mountain biking, mountain climbing, hiking, skiing, rock climbing along with traveling to Italy and France. Swimmers and parents can check out the particulars at: swisssemester.org.

 

In preparation for leaving (and since the school does not offer US History or Science), Cassandra is taking history and biology this summer to fulfill her NJ educational requirement. Cassandra will continue to train with Elite prior to leaving and once she returns.

 

Anyone up for a dual meet in Switzerland???

 

COACH LOFTUS HEADS FOR THE HILLS (MONTANA!!!):

 

            Former assistant coach Pete Loftus has been named head coach of the Butte Tarpons Swim Club, located in Butte, Montana. A small (50-60 swimmers) parent owned swim organization that is loosely related to a local YMCA, BTSC is located a mile above sea level (serious altitude training!!!) in a mining/college town that is rich in history.

           

            Pete reports that due to the large distance between swim clubs, there are very few dual and regional meets and that all qualifying times are related to USA Swimmings Motivational times (there are no JO or Silver Cut times). Interestingly, Pete reports that there is considerable swimming talent within the program and his Seniors will be training doubles during the winter! As part of his new duties, Pete will also be required to give a radio interview after each team competition!!!

 

            Pete begins his new coaching duties on July 1st. For those who want to wish him well directly, he can still be reached at swimcoach666@aol.com.

 

            Good luck to Pete!! Anyone up for a dual meet in Montana???

 

THIS SUMMER REMEMBER: ELITE PRACTICES FIRST!!!!

 

            During the summer season, Wavebuster Gold and Wave Black Swimmers are highly encouraged to compete for their summer clubs. Show your summer world how hard you been working and how good you’ve become from that work!!!

 

However, Wave Golds and Wave Blacks are reminded that summer club practices are not a replacement for Elite practices. Wave Golds and Wave Blacks need to be at Elite practices on those days that do not conflict with competition, vacation or summer swim camps. The instructional and intense practice at Elite will continue to help you reach your goals!!!

 

In addition, swimmers should attend Elite practices prior to swim meets (particularly Saturday morning). There is nothing better for your long term training than practicing and then racing!!!

 

WAVE TEALS, MARLIN BLACKS & MARLIN TEALS:

SUGGESTED SUMMER WORKOUTS ON WEBSITE;

AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED FOR THE “OVER 20” CLUB:

 

            For those Wave Teals, Marlin Blacks and Marlin Teals who are “Stud-like” rather than “Slug-like,” Leighann and Bill have posted suggested workouts on Elite’s website (under Summer Workouts) for swimmers in these training groups to perform throughout the summer season.

 

            To help motivate these swimmers, Elite will provide awards (to be announced) for swimmers who complete 20 or more of these workouts (parents are requested to closely monitor the dates the workouts and type of workouts that were performed).

 

            While most of the Wave Teal, Marlin Blacks and Marlin Teal swimmers will participate at workouts and meets with their local swim clubs, doing an extra workout each day will help keep Elite swimmers practicing their body position drills and building their conditioning. These workouts are designed to remind the swimmers to stay long in the LA (LA= long axis-free & back) strokes and to get their bodies into the SA (SA= short axis-breast & fly) strokes. These workouts should be done routinely to help reminding the swimmers (and their bodies) how to swim properly.

 

            This week, Bill will post a calendar so that swimmers and parents can keep track of the dates and the workout performed. Let’s see how many awards Elite can present next fall!!!

 

DEPOSITS TO SECURE WINTER 2006-07 ROSTER SPOTS DUE  AUGUST 1ST:

 

            Information regarding the Winter 2006-07 Season was mailed last week to each Elite swimmer whom participated in the Spring 2006 Session. That information provided the master schedule (identical to this spring’s schedule), the training group that a swimmer is slated for and the cost of the Winter 2006-07 Session.

 

            Receipt of the $200 deposit will 1) reserve a spot for the swimmer on the Winter 2006-07 training roster 2) will trigger the purchase of the team uniform (suit, t-shirts and sweatshirts) for that swimmer and 3) allow Elite to understand the training group size vis a viz tryouts (slated for Monday, July 24 at Morristown-Beard School at 4 pm).

 

            The deposit is non-refundable.

 

TRYOUTS FOR WINTER 2006-07 SESSION AT MBS ON MONDAY, JULY 24:

 

            Elite will hold tryouts for their 2006-07 Winter Session on Monday, July 24 at Morristown-Beard School from 4 pm to 6 pm. Tryout information is now posted on the website under Tryout 2006.

 

            At tryouts, swimmers will be required to swim 3 times: once freestyle and two out of three of the other competitive strokes. 8 & Unders will swim 25 meters for each stroke while 9 & older swimmers will swim 50 meters of each stroke.

 

            Swimmers who joined Elite for the Spring 2006 Session are required to tryout again this summer to secure a roster spot. Swimmers who trained with Elite during both the Winter 2005-06 Session and the Spring 2006 Session need to send in their $200 deposit prior to August 1st to secure their roster spot. 

 

            In order to keep each training group size manageable, no training group will exceed 36 swimmers (6 swimmers to a lane). With regards to the Senior and Senior Preps (who practice at the same time, the combined number will not exceed 36 swimmers).

 

            Parents of Elite swimmers who have siblings who are interested in trying out should contact Bill in advance.

 

            A make-up tryout is slated for Tuesday, September 5 at Newark Academy from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. Very, very few swimmers are expected to be taken as a result of these make-up tryouts.

 

PLANNING AHEAD? ELITE’S TENTATIVE WINTER 2006-07 MEET SCHEDULE NOW POSTED (AND UPDATED!):

 

New Jersey Swimming has constructed its tentative meet schedule for the Winter 2006-07 Season. From that tentative meet schedule, Elite has constructed its tentative meet scheudle and has now posted its schedule on the website under Meet Schedule.

 

With regards to the New Jersey Swimming Meets, it can be assumed that these dates are fixed (teams were required to bid on meets and secure pools prior to their bids).

 

With regards to Elite’s Intraclub and Dual meet schedule, it can be assumed that there will be a meet on the weekend indicated. Elite has already reached out to several teams regarding dual meets and the specific days and start times are still in play. Two dual meet dates have been formalized and updated on the schedule!

 

For the Age Groupers (Wavebusters and Marlins), Elite is looking to find more yard dual meets next season to provide more opportunities for swimmers to make cut times.

 

BILL AVAILABLE FOR SUMMER SWIM CLINICS:

 

            Over the past 10 summers, Bill has provided dozens of free instructional clinics at local summer swim clubs in the area. Designed to promote both swimming as a sport and Elite to seasonal swimmers, these clinics are provided for swimmers of all ages and abilities.

 

            Usually held during a summer club’s pool during swim practice time, the clinics touch upon the body position and balance drills that are the foundation of Elite’s teaching system. The clinics generally last about 1 hour.

 

            Two teams (Bee Meadow & Fells Brook) have already scheduled clinics this summer. Elite parents whom are involved with their local swim clubs are welcome to contact Bill to set up a date this summer for a clinic!!! 

 

SUMMER LONG COURSE MEET SCHEDULE REVISED:

 

            For those planning ahead, Elite swimmers in the Wave Blacks, Wave Golds, Senior Preps and Seniors are expected to participate in the following long course meets:

 

            1)  12 & Under Silvers will be held Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16 at Rutgers Meet Information now posted

 

2) 13 & Older Silvers will be held Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23 at Rutgers

 

           3) Bronze Championships will be held on Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 in Bayonne (at an outside venue!). Meet Information now posted

 

            4) Due to a entry deadline situation pertaining to the Summer Zones Competition, Junior Olympics HAS BEEN MOVED TO Friday, July 28, Saturday July 29 & Sunday July 30 at Rutgers University.