ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               08-03-09

 

TEAM WORK LANDS ELITE 4TH AT LCM JO’S WITH 1,346.5 POINTS:

27 INDIVIDUALS SCORE POINTS;

DART EARNS TWO JR NAT CUTS; P. DUVVURI AND STRAND ADD SECTIONAL CUTS:

DART (2) & 11-12 BOYS FREE RELAY WIN EVENTS:

DORNEO, A. GALEA (2), GIOSTRA, K. IIZUKA (2), KOLOGY, A. MORREALE, M. HONG (2), M. LI (2), A. MANGO, SEBASTIAN (3), L. STEARNS & M. TORTORELLA EARN ZONE TIMES;

 

            Twenty-seven individual swimmers plus 16 scoring relays provided enough fireworks this past weekend at Junior Olympics to earn the team 4th place overall with 1,346.5 points. This tops last year’s total by 193.5 points. Particularly impressive was that 27 (of the 43) individuals placed within the top 16 in their events, thus earning points for the team. Coupled with Elite’s 4th place finish at JO’s this spring, the team has firmly established itself as a player within the top tier of New Jersey Swimming.

 

            Competing against 38 other NJ teams, Elite accomplished the following:  2 Junior Nationals qualifying times, 3 LCM Sectional qualifying times and 19 Eastern Zone qualifying times. As a team, Elite now has 25 Zone qualifiers in 93 events (up from last years 19 swimmers in 67 events). Clearly, the performance was magnificent.

 

            Swimming a very limited schedule in preparation for Junior Nationals competition in Seattle next week, 18 year old Chris Dart flexed his muscles enough to win both events he swam in: the Senior 100 free (51.80) and the 100 breast (1.06.27). Both were career bests (including British Olympic Trials last year). Chris also participated in three relays, two which placed 2nd and the other a 4th place. Dart’s breast and lead-off 200 free leg of the 800 Free Relay (1.55.03) were new Jr. Nat times for Chris, who now has 9 qualifying times.

 

            Michael Strand, who will be joining Dart in Seattle to compete in the 100 back after competing later this week at Sectionals, was magnificent in his tune-up; Michael 1) dropped 1.2 seconds in his 200 back swim to place 5th (2.13.94)  2) dropped 6 seconds in the 200 fly (2.16.44) to place 12th  3) dropped 1 second in the 100 fly (58.79) and 4) dropped 3 seconds in the 200 IM (2.14.42) to place 4th.  Michael’s 200 IM and 200 fly swims were LCM Sectional qualifying times.

 

            15 year old Priya Duvvuri, who will also compete at Sectionals later this week, crushed her 100 back race. Priya dropped from a 1.11.23 to a 1.08.65, placing her 2nd and gives her a 2nd individual Sectional qualifying time. Priya also dropped .5 in her 100 butterfly swim (1.07.25) to place 14th.

 

            Three Elite swimmers placed in the top 10 in their age groups in the high point race. 13 year old Regan Kology, who came into the meet with a slight fever, overcame her ailments to drop a full minute in the 1500 free (18.17.14) to place 2nd (this time is just 12 seconds over the Sectional qualifying time). Kology also placed 2nd in the 800 free (9.39.34) and 200 free (2.13.93), placed 4th in both the 400 free (4.43.61) and the 200 IM (2.34.53), was 6th in the 50 free (28.87) and 7th in the 200 fly (2.41.45).  Regan placed 3rd (just 1 point from 2nd) with 115 points.

 

            12 year old Zach Katz scored in every race he competed in to score 125 for a 4th place high point finish. Zach was 3rd in the 50 breast (36.09), the 100 fly (1.11.34) and the 50 fly (31.43) while also placing 4th in the 200 IM (2.40.91) and the 100 breast (1.21.22).

 

13 year old Ryan Sebastian was 6th in the point race in his age group, scoring 70 points. Ryan was fabulous in the 400 IM, dropping 6 seconds in his 2nd place finish of 5.13.06. Ryan also placed 6th in the 200 back (2.26.04-a 3 second drop), 7th in the 100 back (1.08.88) and 8th in the 200 fly (2.29.92). The 100 back, 200 fly and 400 IM were new Zone cuts for Ryan. In each of his 11 swims, Ryan posted a personal best!

 

The 11-12 boys foursome of Katz, Karl Melchior, Chris Balbo and Matt Hong electrified the crowd with their first place finish in the 200 free relay. The same group nearly made it a double, coming in a close 2nd in the 200 Medley Relay.

 

11 year old Balbo out swam all but one in the 800 free, dropping a whopping 50 seconds in his 10.37.55 performance. Balbo added an 8th place finish in the 400 free (with a 10 second) drop. Expect to see Chris churning away at the 1500 at the next opportunity!

 

10 year old Jimmy Coyne stroked to a 3rd place finish in the 100 breast (1.34.92) and followed up with a 4th place finish in the 50 breast (45.14). 11 year old Andrea Galea nabbed Zone qualifying times with her 3rd place finish in the 50 back (34.48) and her 6th place finish in the 100 back (1.16.02).

 

13 year old Lindsay Stearns dropped 4 seconds to place 3rd in the grueling 200 butterfly event. Lindsay’s 2.34.46 time was her 2nd Zone cut. Lindsay also placed 9th in the 100 fly (1.10.50).

 

12 year old Matt Hong placed in the top 16 in every race but one (that one, he was 17th) and snagged two more Zone qualifying times: 1) 100 free (1.04.14 & 4th place) and 2) 100 back (1.15.82 & 7th place). Matt also placed 5th in the 50 free (29.14) and 7th in the 200 free (2.25.28).

 

10 year old Alicia Iizuka earned a 4th place in the 50 breast (43.24) and a 6th place in the 100 beast (1.34.23). Twin sister Karen stepped up to earn two Zone qualifying times (Alicia had already qualified), also in the 50 (44.15) and the 100 (1.36.61) breast.

 

10 year old Michael Tortorella was 6th in 3 separate events: 1) the 50 breast (45.38 & just behind Coyne) 2) 100 breast (1.39.87) and 3) 50 free (34.37). Michael’s 50 breast effort earned him a spot on the NJ Zone squad.

 

13 year old Alli Dorneo was a rocket in the 100 back, sprinting to a 7th place finish (and Zone cut) with her 1.13.30 effort. Alli was 13th in the 200 back (2.40.42). 10 year old Amy Duren drew 7th place twice: the 50 fly (36.98) and the 100 fly (1.26.18).

 

In 14 swims (including relays), 18 year old Scott Groel found time to place 7th in the 100 back (1.04.61), 10th in the 200 back (2.18.41) and 11th in the 200 IM (2.18.10).

 

By placing 8th in the 100 butterfly (1.09.83), Kara Miller-Radest earned the butterfly spot on the Girls Sectional Medley Relay.

 

14 year old Lindsey Giostra placed 8th in the 200 breast (2.58.10) to earn herself a 2nd Zone qualifying time. Lindsey was 13th in the 100 breast (1.24.90).

 

16 year old Adam Weinbrom won the consolation heat in the 100 back (1.05.03) to place 9th in the event.

 

15 year old Michael Li, locked in with his breaststroke, dropped 4 seconds in the 200 (2.40.66) to place 11th and dropped 2.6 seconds in his 100 (1.13.88) in placing 13th to get within spitting distance of a sectional qualifying time (just over 1 second).

 

 10 year old Emily Gorham, swimming the event for just the 2nd time, splashed to an 11th place finish in the 100 butterfly (1.29.79). 10 year old Rachel Hong, who has improved immensely this season, was 11th in the 50 back (40.43) in her 1st JO performance!

 

In her first attempt at the event (JO’s allows 800 free qualifiers to enter the 1500), 11 year old Kaitlin Stearns placed 12th in the 1500 free with a 21.36.87 time (and JO cut). Kaitlin also placed 14th in the 50 free (30.94).

 

15 year old Brendan Miller-Radest chugged to a 12th place finish in the 1500 (17.50.10) and dropped 9 seconds in his 800 free effort (9.16.97).

 

15 year old Alex Mango, who aged up earlier this month, still managed to place 13th in the 100 back (1.05.64) and 14th in the 50 free. Alex push down times in 7 swims.

 

10 year old Abbie Bigham was 13th in the 400 free (5.55.67), improving 5 seconds from her performance just 2 weeks ago.

 

14 year old Matt Ahlmeyer, in one of swimmings’ toughest events, placed 14th in the 200 butterfly (2.38.55).  Juliet Felsen dropped 4.5 seconds to place 14th in the 100 butterfly (1.16.35).     

 

            Swimmers who participated (# in parenthesis is number of best Elite LCM best times): Matthew Ahlmeyer (1) Chris Balbo (7), Abbie Bigham (6), Jimmy Coyne (3), Chris Dart (3), Jeffrey Dong, Alli Dorneo ((3), Amy Duren (4), Avinash Duvvuri (1), Krishna Duvvuri (2), Priya Duvvuri (5), Venka Duvvuri (1), Juliet Felsen (7), Andrea Galea (8), Lindsey Giostra (2), Emily Gorham (4), Scott Groel (4), Andre Guacelli (1), Matt Hong (5), Rachel Hong (1), Andrew Huang, Alicia Iizuka (2), Karen Iizuka (3), Zach Katz (5), Greg Keiser, Regan Kology (6), Isabel LaRaia, Michael Li (4), Sarah Lowe (1), Alex Mango (7), Karl Melchior (2), Brendan Miller-Radest (1), Kara Miller-Radest (2), Ali Morreale (1), Isabella Morreale, Caroline Nash (2), Ryan Sebastian (13), Kaitlin Stearns (6), Lindsay Stearns (2), Michael Strand (9), Michael Tortorella (4), Adam Weinbrom (1) & Ryan Wyer.

 

LIFE AFTER JO’S; JR. NATIONALS, SECTIONALS AND EASTERN ZONE ALL-STARS:

ELITE WELL REPRESENTED AT ALL:

 

            Its not even over when its over!  Elite season continues following its spectacular Junior Olympic performance as    Elite swimmers will be participating in 3 higher level meets: Jr. Nationals, Sectionals and Eastern Zone All-Stars.

 

Jr Nats:

 

            Chris Dart and Michael Strand will each represent Elite at USA Swimming’s Junior Nationals, to be held this year in Federal Way (just south of Seattle), Washington. Chris will compete in 6 events (50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 200 back, 100 breast & 200 IM,). Michael will compete in the 100 back.

 

The criteria for the meet is incredibly fast qualifying times and a swimmer must be 18 years old or younger. Results can be found at:  usaswimming.org/jrnationals.

 

Sectionals:

 

Nine Elite swimmers will travel early Wednesday to Buffalo NY to compete in the Eastern Zone “Super” Sectional Championship. Representing Elite will be individual qualifiers Strand (50 free, 100 back, 200 back, 200 breast, 100 fly, 200 IM & 400 IM), Scott Groel (200 free, 100 back, 200 back & 200 IM) and Priya Duvvuri (100 back and 100 fly).

 

Elite will field 3 Men’s Relays: 4 x 100 Medley, 4 x 100 Free and 4 x 200 Free. Participating in these relays will be Strand, Groel, Venkatesh Duvvuri, Alex Mango and Adam Weinbrom.

 

Elite will field 1 Women’s Relay: 4 x 100 Medley Relay. Representing Elite will be Duvvuri, Ali Morreale, Kara Miller-Radest and Regan Kology.

 

Results can be followed at: http://star-meets.org/results/Sectionals/2009/index.htm

 

Zones:

 

            9 Elite Swimmers will reprsent New Jersey Swimming at the Eastern Zones All-Star Age Group Championship Meet at Penn State University in Collegeville, Penn next week. Those Elite swimmers are:

 

            Jimmy Coyne: 50 breast, 100 breast

 

Alli Dorneo- 100 back

 

Amy Duren: 50 fly, 100 fly

 

Andrea Galea: 50 back, 100 back

 

Lindsey Giostra: 100 breast, 200 breast

 

Matt Hong: 50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 50 fly

 

Alicia Iizuka: 50 breast, 100 breast

 

Karen Iizuka: 50 breast, 100 breast

 

Zach Katz: 50 free, 50 breast, 100 breast, 200 breast, 50 fly, 100 fly

 

Regan Kology: 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 400 free, 800 free, 1500 free

 

Kara Miller-Radest: 100 fly

 

Ryan Sebastian: 100 back, 200 back, 200 fly, 400 IM

 

Lindsay Stearns: 100 fly, 200 fly

 

 Michael Tortorella: 50 breast

 

 

MORE TALENT ON THE WAY; TRYOUTS YIELD 20 NEW SWIMMERS:

 

            From perhaps the most competitive tryouts in the history of Elite, 16 new swimmers have committed to training with Elite during the Winter 2009-10 Season.  Most of the swimmers accepted have previous year round swimming experience.

 

Joining Elite will be:

 

Wave Golds: Ria Iizuka, Brian Liu, & Remenna Xu

 

Wave Blacks: John Chiang, Ryan Miller, Gloria Xu

 

Wave Teals: Lynna Huo, Giancarlo Soriano, Brittany Sun, Abigail Tsay, Vivian Xia, Claire Xu & Grace Xu

 

Marlin Teals: Cordelia Burn, Lara-Grace Kology, Kristen Liu, Livia Maguire, Teddy Maguire, Dante Soriano & Doris Xia

 

THAT’S OK, WE KNOW SHE WAS THE BEST!!

AND WE HAD HER AND THEY DIDN’T!!

 

            Despite OVERWHELMING evidence that Leighann Marcelliano Day was the Age Group Coach of the Year, New Jersey Swimming chose another candidate to honor with its award this year. While Bayonne’s Mohamed Abdelaal, the receiptant of the award, has done an excellent job in his three years, the fruits of his labor do not come close to matching Elite’s Age Group program that  Leighann constructed.  

 

            But that is ok, as we at Elite know that Leighann was instrumental in creating the environment at Elite that has produced the highest scoring 12 & Under Junior Olympic results this past spring. Without Leighann, Elite would not be the growing powerhouse it is today, and no other single age group coach in New Jersey matched what Leighann created during her 4+ year tenure at Elite.

 

MICHELLE DUCHARME NAMED NJ EASTERN ZONE COACH:

 

            Elite Coach Michelle DuCharme has been named as a New Jersey Eastern Zone Coach for the Summer 2009 Zone Championships to be held August 12 thru 15 at Penn State University.

 

            This is the 2nd time Michelle has been named a Zone Coach; she represented NJ (and Elite) this past spring at the Spring 2009 Championships.

 

            Current Elite Coaches Ashley Johnston and Becky Marcelliano have also been Zone Coaches in the past.

 

FINA PASSES USA SPONSORED PROPOSAL LIMITING HI-TECH SUITS:

 

            FINA, the world federation that governs international swimming competition, passed a resolution Friday, July 24 limiting (eliminating?) the use of high-tech suits at international competition. Presumably, USA Swimming will comply with the resolution with regards to USA competition. New Jersey Swimming will comply with all USA regulations.

 

            The two significant features of the resolution speak to length (men suits will be limited to the waist to the knee-Jammer size and women suits will be limited from the neck, shoulders and knees) and to the material (textile only). It is unclear as to the definition of textile, yet it presumably limits/eliminates the high-tech suits that have been introduced since February, 2008.

 

            The FINA resolution does not take into effect until 2010. USA will hold a convention in Chicago in September (Bill will be a voting representative from NJ) where presumably a new USA resolution will be adopted.

 

ELITE BACK TO WORK EARLIER THIS FALL:

 

            Attempting to squeeze a couple more practice opportunities out of next season, Elite will start practice earlier this coming training season.

 

            As per the tentative September 2009 practice schedule now posted on the website under Practice Schedule, the Seniors and Senior Preps will begin training on August 31st and September 1st respectively.

 

            The Wave Golds and the Wave Blacks will begin on September 9 (the day after tryouts).

 

The Wave Teals, the Marlin Blacks and the Marlin Teals will begin September 13th. Each training group is starting 1 week earlier than last year.

 

This schedule is still tentative and updated schedules will be posted in August.

 

WINTER PRACTICE SCHEDULE SAME NEXT YEAR AS LAST YEAR:

The Winter 2009-10 practice schedule will be identical as last year’s schedule. Elite will continue to extend the Wavebuster Black Friday night practice to 7:30 pm. In addition, the Wavebuster Golds will utilize Newark Academy on Saturday mornings early in the season prior to joining the Seniors & Senior Preps at MBS later in the season to race.

NOMINATIONS WANTED FOR ESCPO:

 

            Nominations for positions are wanted and needed for the Elite Swim Club Parents Organization. Parents who are interested or who have nominees should email Sandi Niccolai at sandnic@aol.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!!!