ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 07-30-07

DELUGE OF SPECTACULAR SWIMMING AT JO’S AND BRONZE;

AT JO’S, TEAM TIES FOR 11^TH PLACE AS STRAND, KATZ BATTLE FOR HIGH POINT AWARDS;

NELSON LEADS WAY AT BRONZE-ELITE WINS 11 EVENTS!!

Elite swimmers finished their fantastic Summer 2007 long course season with an giant exclamation point this past weekend at two different events: New Jersey’s Junior Olympics and the 13 & Older Bronze Championships. The results were so good that they literally border on the unbelievable!!

Junior Olympics:

With 14 year old Michael Strand and 10 year old Zackie Katz leading the way, Elite tied for 11^th place with 620.5 points!! This is Elite’s highest point total at LCM Junior Olympics in its history! And for the 1^st time, Elite had two swimmers in the running for high point awards within their age group. And proof that this was not a two-man show, 14 different Elite swimmers placed within the top 16 in their races and thus produced points for Elite!!

Strand, who has maintained he is only a short course swimmer due to his fantastic underwater work off his start and turns, proved this weekend to all (including himself) that he can compete in the big pool by placing 2^nd (125 points) in the high point competition in the 13-14 Boys Age Group. Michael won two events: the 100 and 200 back, placed 2^nd in 3 events (200 breast, 200 IM and 400 IM) and placed 3^rd once (100 breast). Those in attendance will long remember Michael’s determination during his 200 back victory, as he attacked the race early, gave ground in the third 50 to his nemesis (and high point winner) Alex Field, but then dug deep and found the will to win (and pull away) during the last 25 meters!!!

Katz, who this past season has developed his butterfly and backstroke events to match his superb breast and free events, racked up 92 points in placing 4^th in the 100 breast, 5^th in the 200 free, 6^th three times: 50 free, 50 fly and 50 breast and 7^th twice: 100 free and 100 fly. Katz, who will continue his summer season by attending the Eastern Zones meet next week, also added to his zone swims (3) with his 100 breast swim.

Chris Dart, swimming a very limited schedule as he rests for Junior Nationals next week, won both the Men’s 15-19 50 free (25.05) and 100 free (54.93) while placing 4^th in the 100 butterfly (59.14), all of which were personal best swims.

10 year old Aaron Levin contributed significantly as he placed 3^rd in the 200 IM (3.14.97), 5^th in the 100 free (1.16.45) and 7^th in the 50 free (34.26).

Although none will attend, a trio of Elite 13 year old girls qualified for Zones with their JO performances. Pivya Duvvuri had another fantastic meet as she had personal bests in each of her 5 events & qualified for Zones in two events (100 fly-1.11.89 & 100 back-1.13.50-a 7^th place finish). Ali Morreale rocketed to zone cuts in both her swims: 100 breast (1.24.20) and 200 breast (2.56.64-a 8.5 second drop and 6^th place finish). Breana Fitzpatrick finished her season with a scorching 29.60 50 free swim (8^th place), also good enough for Zones!

14 year old Duncan Hall, who had previously qualified for Zones, placed 6^th in the 100 back (1.09.32).

Proving you do not have to be old to be tough, 11 year old Regan Kology placed 7^th in the grueling 800 meter free (10.48.69) event while teammate Lindsay Stearns placed 9^th in the equally taxing 200 meter butterfly (3.01.23).

15 year old Ricky Martin placed 9^th in the 100 free (57.57).

Swimmers who participated (# in parenthesis is number of best LCM best times) were: Courtney Brosnan (2), John Burns (1), John Closs (2), Chris Dart (3), Alli Dorneo (1), Krishna Duvvuri (4), Priya Duvvuri (5), Venkatesh Duvvuri (1), Cassandra Farnow, Breana Fitzpatrick (1), Katie Gorman (2), Andre Guacelli (1), Duncan Hall (3), Zackie Katz (5), Regan Kology (4), Aaron Levin (5), Ricky Martin (2), Ali Morreale (2), Gabrielle Pick (2), Michelle Pick (2), Brittany Ross (1), Kaitlin Stearns (6), Lindsay Stearns (3), Michael Strand (7) & Sarah Weinbrom (1).

Bronze Championships:

Elite swimmers were equally successful at the 13 & Older Bronze Championships held in Bayonne (outside!!!). In addition to winning 11 of the 32 events offered, in virtually every race Elite participated, the Elite swimmer not only won the heat (unless they placed behind another Elite swimmer), but they literally blew away their competition, often winning heats by several seconds!!

14 year old Maggie Nelson, who has now fully recovered from shoulder and back ailments, won each of her 4 events: 100 free (1.07.75), 200 free (2.29.62), 400 free (5.16.32) and 200 IM (2.50.08). All four swims of Maggie’s swimmers were Silver qualifying times.

Following up on her tremendous Silver Meet, Cassandra Farnow won the Girls 15-19 200 IM (by over 5 seconds) in reaching the wall in 2.42.53.

Victoria D’Altrui, won the Girls 15-19 100 fly time in 1.19.39. Victoria also had a personal best in each of her 6 swims and placed 3^rd twice (100 free-1.08.66 & 200 IM-2.49.06).

15 year old Amanda Scherb won the Girls15-19 100 back event (by over 3 seconds) in posting a 1.19.91 time.

Newcomer Amanda Grywalski flexed her swimming muscles as she placed 1^st in the Girls 15-19 200 free (2.26.07) and 2^nd in the 50 free (30.92).

Victoria Keiser finished her season by winning the Girls 15-19 100 breast event (1.35.31). Victoria was also perfect in her 4 swims, with best times in each.

In his only swim of the meet, Brendan Miller-Radest dropped 7 seconds to win the Boys 13-14 200 IM event in 2.53.15.

Spencer Fisch stroked to a 1^st place finish in the Men’s 13-14 100 back vent in a 1.18.94.

Three swimmers: Lindsay Anderson, Victoria D’Altrui & Brandon King had best times in each of their 6 swims!!!

Swimmers who participated (# in parenthesis is number of best LCM best times) were: Lindsay Anderson (6), Taylor Campolattaro (2), Victoria D’Altrui (6), Corey Deatly (1), Sam Duren (1), Venkatesh Duvvuri (1), Cassandra Farnow (2), Spencer Fisch (2), Hannah Gleason (2), Amanda Grywalski (2), Brent Jones (3), Victoria Keiser (4), Brandon King (6), Emmie Lai (1), Daniela Manzi (1), Danielle Martinez (3), Brendan Miller-Radest (1), Ali Morreale, Kendall Murray (1), Maggie Nelson (4), Rebecca Niccolai (1), Collin Reilly (1), Nicki Ross (4), Amanda Scherb (1), Jonathan Scott (1), Erica Takahashi (1), Lexi Tedesco (1) & Michael Wang (3).

TRYOUTS YIELD QUALITY FOR NEXT SEASON:

As a result of last week’s tryouts, Elite can expect some very competitive new swimmers joining the team in September!! A total of 18 new swimmers have accepted Elite’s invitation to join and be part of the club. A make-up tryout on Sept 4 will compete the Elite 2007-08 Roster.

From the times posted at tryouts, this group will be very competitive and will be pushing the existing Elite swimmers within each training group.

Asked to join were the following swimmers in the following training groups:

Wave Golds: Matt Ahlmeyer, Silas Newcomb, Katerina Salsano & Ryan Wyer

Wave Blacks: Ryan Buckham, Matt Hong & Jonas Singer

Wave Teals: Drew D’Andrea, Patrick Hong

Marlin Blacks: James Sullivan

Marlin Teals: Eloise Burn, Meggie Butler, Andy Fresen, RJ Fresen, Rachel Keselman, Spencer Pearce, Michael Tortorella & Katie Tselepis

Congratulations to all the above. The coaches can’t wait to begin working with you on a day to day basis!!

COACHES CINDY DEATLY ROSS AND LEIGHANN MARCELLIANO PROMOTED;

NEW RESPONSIBILITIES FOR EACH, PAST PERFORMANCES RECOGNIZED:

Coaches Cindy Deatly Ross and Leighann Marcelliano have been promoted into even more prominent positions within Elite. Each of these promotions will be effective with the start of the Winter 2007-08 Training Season.

Cindy has been named Co-Head Senior/Senior Prep/Head Stroke Technician Coach. While her primary responsibility will be working on stroke technique with each Senior and Senior Prep, she will also significantly contribute to the general planning of the seasonal training (both water and dryland) program. In addition, Cindy will take on all the responsibilities of the Senior/Senior Prep Head Coach when Bill is absent (as Elite evolves into a more competitive program, the likelihood is that Senior coach (s) will need to travel with swimmers to competitions more frequently during the year. While Elite wants it best swimmers to perform fabulous at these competitions, Elite still needs to have consistent coverage for those swimmers back home who are training to reach these new levels. Cindy’s promotion will allow either Bill or Cindy to travel while the other coach can provide consistent coaching at home).

Simultaneously, Leighann has been named Head Age Group Coach at Elite. In this position, Leighann will be primarily responsible for managing the Wavebuster and Marlin training groups. As such, during the Winter 2007-08 Season, Leighann will be the Head Training Group Coach of both the Wave Golds and the Wave Blacks while overseeing the Head Training Group Coaches of the Wavebuster Teals, Marlin Blacks and Marlin Teals and overseeing the Assistant Training Group Coaches of all 5 training groups. Since Elite is set up to consistently teach the same techniques from top to bottom throughout the program, Leighann will also continue to have significant input into the general planning of all the training programs.

These promotions are also recognition of the tremendous coaching performances Cindy and Leighann have provided to the swimmers of Elite over the years.

Both Cindy and Leighann will continue to report to Bill, who will remain Head Coach of Elite. Bill will also be the other Co-Head Senior/Senior Prep Coach.

SUMMER WORKOUTS FOR MARLIN BLACKS AND MARLIN TEALS:

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

To help motivate these swimmers, Elite will provide certificates of completion 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) during the summer.

While most Marlin Blacks and Marlin Teal swimmers will participate at workouts and meets with their local summer 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.

Marlin Blacks and Marlin Teals, let’s see how many awards Elite can present next fall!!!

ROWING JACKET NO LONGER JUST A COACH THING; ORDER ONE YOURSELF!!

That very impressive Elite rowing jacket you’ve seen worn by your coaches (it was a gift by ESCPO to the coaches at the awards banquet) can now be yours!!

Attached to this memo and posted on the website under “forms” is an order form for this jacket. There will be two separate orderings: 1) if you send back your payment and the form with your registration (or mail separate to Bill at 32 Prospect Street, Summit, NJ 07901) prior to July 14, you will receive your jacket as part of your 2007-08 team uniform or 2) payment can be made at the suit sale in September, 2007 and the order will be filled by late November.

Catch the spirit: order your Elite rowing jacket today!!!

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.