ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               7-14-08

 

BALBO, GALEA, GORMAN, KOLOGY (2), SHEPARD & L.STEARNS (2) EACH WIN EVENTS WHILE JUNIOR OLYMPICS ONSLAUGHT CONTINUES AT 12 & UNDER SILVER/BRONZE;

C. BALBO, BUCKHAM, DORNEO, FERRELL, GALEA, GORMAN, HARTIGAN, S. HARRIS, M. HONG, KATZ, KOLOGY, KOVACS, G. PICK, SHEPARD, K. STEARNS, L.STEARNS ADD 32 JO CUTS;

 

            Elite’s onslaught against the Junior Olympic qualifying times continued this past weekend at the 12 & Under Silver/Bronze LCM Championships as 16 different swimmers posted 32 additional JO cut times!!! In addition, 6 different Elite swimmers won 8 of the 60 events contested!!! Elite now has 37 swimmers qualified in 233 events (prior to the 13 & Older Silver Championships to be held this weekend).

 

Leading the way for Elite were four 12 year old girls: Lindsay Stearns, Regan Kology, Andrea Shepard and Katie Gorman, who between them, won 6 events. 

 

Stearns, who qualified for Zones in her last swim at Summer Sizzle two weeks ago (200 fly), was absolutely on fire as she won 2 events: the 50 back (36.70) and the 200 back (2.47.38). Lindsay also placed 2nd in the 100 breast (1.33.20) and 4th in the 200 breast (3.20.80). Kology, known for her freestyle prowess, captured two of the most grueling events: the 400 IM (5.44.16) and the 200 fly (2.52.52). Regan also placed 4th in the 200 back (2.54.39).

 

Shepard won the 100 back (1.19.85) and followed up with a 3rd place finish in the 200 back (2.52.89). Gorman destroyed her competition in winning the 200 IM (1.46.62) by almost 3 seconds. Katie also placed 3rd in the 400 IM (6.03.01).

 

But these girls were not the whole Elite story, as many others also got into the act.10 year old Jared Kovacs and 10 year old Alyssa Hartigan posted their very 1st career Junior Olympics qualifying times!! Kovacs actually qualified for 2 events: 100 free (1.23.23-placing 3rd) and the 50 breast (49.79) while Hartigan dropped 8 seconds to place 5th in the 50 fly (42.41) and go gold!!

 

10 year old Chris Balbo and 10 year old Andrea Galea completed their JO sweeps. Each swam 1 time (they had previously qualified for JO’s in all the other events) and won their respective 50 breast events (Galea in a 46.65 and Balbo in a 47.97). Both swimmers will still be 10 thru next year’s spring JO’s.

 

11 year old Zachie Katz added two JO cuts to his resume (now numbering 8); one in the 200 IM (2.53.83 in placing 2nd) and the other in the 400 IM (6.17.59 in placing 3rd ). Katz also placed 4th in the 100 free (1.11.65).

 

10 year old Scott Harris cruised to 2 Junior Olympic times: one in the 50 breast (50.23) and the 100 back (1.36.44). 10 year old Kaitlin Stearns also added 2 JO events: the 100 breast (1.49.99) and the 100 fly (1.35.46). Stearns was just one event short of qualifying for all possible JO events.

 

10 year old Andrea Ferrell posted her 1st summer JO time in the 200 IM (3.24.87). 12 year old Allie Dorneo placed 3rd in adding her 4th JO swim in the 400 IM (6.22.82).

 

11 year old Gabrielle Pick, in her last event of the meet, churned to a JO cut in the 50 butterfly (35.73). 11 year old Matthew Hong added his third gold swim in the 100 back (1.22.15).

 

In addition to all these impressive swims, there were literally dozens of other fabulous swims. One additional swimmer of extreme note, 10 year old Greg Niccolai went gold 3 events, but he ages up before JO’s. His 100 free swim was good enough for a 2nd place finish.

 

Swimmers who participated in the 12 & Under Silver/Bronze were (# in parenthesis is number of best Elite LCM best times):  Chris Balbo (1), Abbie Bigham (6), Nicole Blum (5), Ryan Buckham (1), Drew D’Andrea (6), Alli Dorneo (6), Amy Duren (5), Avinash Duvvuri (5), Madeleine Faust (5), Andrea Ferrell (6), Andrea Galea (1), Emily Goad (6),  Jess Gorham (6), Katie Gorman (4), Emma Harris (6), Scott Harris (5), Alyssa Hartigan (6), Matthew Hong (6), Patrick Hong (6), Zachie Katz (6), Regan Kology (5), Jared Kovacs (6), Clark LaRaia (6), Isabel LaRaia (2), Aaron Levin (2), Sarah Lowe (6), Katie McGrath (5), Karl Mechior (6), Kara Miller-Radest (6), Gregory Niccolai (5), Darragh O’Gorman (5), Nick Pachiolo (6), Gabrielle Pick (5), Michelle Pick (2), Mikala Quinn (6), Taylor Savarese (5), Andrea Shepard (6), Kaitlin Stearns (3), Lindsay Stearns (6), Michael Tortorella (5), Rachel Tortorella (4), Spense Turkington (6) & Caroline Watt (6).

DART EARNS A GOLD MEDAL BY PARTICIPATING IN THE MEDLAY RELAY; FINISHES 11TH IN SEMI-FINALS, FASTEST 50 BACK GBR & USA SWIMMER:

      Despite swimming below his expectations in his individual events, Chris Dart returns home today from the World Youth Games with a gold medal. By participating in the top Great Britain medley relay during the prelims (swimming the backstroke leg), Chris earned a gold medal when the Great Britain team later won the event during finals.  

      Chris placed 11th in the semi-final round (after placing 14th in the prelims) in the 50 m back. As a result, Chris was the fastest Great Britain and USA swimmer in the event. His time of 26.80 was faster than his morning swim of 27.05.       

      Earlier in the week, Chris swam the 100 m back in a disappointing 58.30, which was almost 2 seconds slower than his performance in the British Olympic Trials in early April. In this performance, Chris placed 26th.

      Later this month, Chris will also represent Great Britain in the European Junior Championships to be held in Belgrade, Serbia.

WINTER 2008-09 ROSTER DEPOSITS DUE THIS WEDNESDAY (JULY 16);

94 HAVE COMMITTED & ARE NOW LISTED ON WEBSITE UNDER TRYOUTS:

 

            Swimmers who plan on training with Elite for the Winter 2008-09 Season need to have their $300 deposit received by Bill by this Wednesday, July16 to reserve their roster space. The updated list of 94 swimmers who have committed to Elite for next winter is now posted on the team website under Tryouts.

 

            Receipt of the deposit will trigger the purchase of the team uniform (suit, t-shirts, sweatshirts, racing caps) in late July for each registered individual. This procedure also allows Elite to understand how many openings there are per training group prior to the July 22nd tryouts.

 

Those swimmers who fail to have their deposit in by July 16 but are still interested in training with Elite will need to tryout for Elite at one of the two tryouts (Tuesday, July 22 or Tuesday, September 2). Depending on the numbers within each training group, there is no guarantee that roster spaces will be available at those dates.

 

TRYOUTS TUESDAY, JULY 22; VOLUNTEER TIMERS WELCOME:

 

            Tryouts for Elite’s Winter 2008-09 Season will be held Tuesday, July 22 at Morristown-Beard from 4 pm to 6 pm. There will be no pm practices held that day.

 

            Make-up Tryouts will be held Tuesday, September 2 at Newark Academy from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.

 

            Elite swimmers and/or Parents are welcome to volunteer their time to help the coaches out at both tryouts!

 

OPERATION “THRIVAL” UNDERWAY: CLINICS SCHEDULED:

 

            With the help of Elite parents, coaches & friends, Bill will be providing free stroke clinics this summer at a number of summer league clubs. At the moment, Bill’s schedule looks as follows: 

           

            Monday, June 30: Maplewood-completed

            Tuesday, July 1: Bee Meadow-completed

            Wednesday, July 2: Maplewood-completed

            Monday, July 7: Millburn-completed

            Tuesday, July 8: Fish & Game-completed

            Wednesday, July 9: Roxciticus Country Club & Brookside Beach-completed

            Thursday, July 10: Springfield-completed

            Monday, July 14: Glacier Hills-completed

            Tuesday, July 15: Minisink

            Wednesday, July 30: Summit

 

            More teams/venues are expected to be added. If you would like Bill to provide a free clinic at your club, please contact him immediately.

 

RUTGERS HOSTING NATIONAL JUNIOR DISABILITY CHAMPIONSHIPS:

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

 

Children’s Specialized Hospital (Largest Child Rehab Hospital in the US) has opened its newest hospital in New Brunswick, NJ and is hosting the: 2008 National Junior Disability Championships (NJDC) and the 2008 International Wheelchair and Amputee (IWAS) World Junior Games

at Rutgers University, New Brunswick from Sunday July 20th to Saturday July 26th.   WEBSITE www.IWASjr.US

Over 400 physically challenged Athletes from 20 countries and the US (ages 7 to 23) will be attending the Games.  Approximately 215 athletes will compete in the IWAS Games and approximately 200 National Competitors in the NJDC Games.  Some of these athletes have made their respective National teams and will be going to China for the Paralympics from September 6th to the 17th .

Competitions will be held at Rutgers in Track, Field, Swimming, Archery, Table Tennis, weight lifting and 3X3 Basketball.

Volunteers are integral to proper management of the event(s) and are greatly needed.  The swimming events will be held Tuesday, July 22nd and Wednesday, July 23rd from 7am to 12:30 pm.  They need volunteers at swimming to time and move wheelchairs and personal effects baskets.   They will be swimming International Pre-Lims and National Timed Finals in the mornings and International Finals at night.

For more information please contact:  Stephanie Kolterjahn   Volunteer Co-Coordinator:  steuiegrl@aol.com

 

WINTER PRACTICE SCHEDULE SAME NEXT YEAR AS LAST YEAR:

 

The Winter 2008-09 practice schedule will be identical as last year’s schedule (with one exception: the Wave Golds will practice on Saturday morning at MBS with the Seniors/Senior Preps).

 

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