ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 8-04-08
EASTERN ZONES UP NEXT: YOUNGERS VIE WITH REGION’S BEST:
11 Elite youngsters will compete as part of a New Jersey All-Star Team in USA Swimming’s Eastern Zone Championships this week (Wednesday thru Sunday) in Rockville, Maryland. Never before has Elite had so many swimmers qualifying in so many Eastern Zone LCM events. The Summer Zones squad consists of swimmers who earn a specific qualifying time whereas the Spring Zones team comprises only of the top 2 swimmers in each event in the LSC (New Jersey Swimming is an LSC).
Although Elite has 19 different qualifiers in 67 events, 8 swimmers opted not to attend the meet. Below is an alphabetical listing of swimmers who will be competing.
Chris Balbo: 200 free, 400 free, 100 back, 100 fly
Ryan Buckham: 50 back
Jeffrey Dong: 50 breast, 100 breast, 200 breast
Alli Dorneo: 50 back
Katie Gorman: 50 free
Zachie Katz: 50 breast
Regan Kology: 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 400 free & 200 IM
Brendan Miller-Radest: 800 free, 1500 free
Kaitlin Stearns: 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 400 free, 50 back, 100 back
Lindsay Stearns: 100 fly, 200 fly
Ryan Wyer: 50 free, 200 fly
Elite swimmers may also participate in New Jersey relays!
New Jersey will be competing against All-Star Teams from Maine, New England, Western NY State, Metro NY, Mid-Atlantic (Penn, Delaware & South Jersey), Connecticut, Maryland & Virginia.
While the website will be updated on a daily basis, link for results is: http://www.pvswim.org/eastzone/index.html. Go NJ!! (GO ELITE!!).
ELITE’S TOP 10 LCM TIMES HAVE BEEN UPDATED:
Reflecting last week’s Junior Olympic results, the Elite Top 10 LCM times on the website has been updated. This list will be updated again once the results from the Eastern Zone Championships are available.
Since Elite youngsters only started competing in lcm in the recent past, many of the top 10 times are from current swimmers! Check it out!
PHASE-IN
SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE POSTED:
The September 2008 practice schedule has been posted (under practice schedule). As in year’s past, the training groups will phase-in over several weeks.
The Senior Program will start the week of Labor Day. The Wavebusters will start the following week (Sept 8th). And the Marlins will start the week after that (Sept 15).
UNIFORM CHANGE NEXT YEAR: NEW CAPS
At the suggestion of Tao Hong (parent of Matthew and Patrick Hong), Elite will be sporting new racing caps next season.
Tao is convinced that since the original Elite racing caps were NOT distinctive enough, many spectators are unaware of just how well Elite swimmers are performing. With a more distinctive cap, Tao believes Elite will generate additional interest as spectators properly witness the impressive nature of Elite performances.
The new caps will be the traditional black; however, instead of the original Elite logo, the new cap will simply have ESC in bold, neon green letters across the cap. Distinct, simple, and in front!!
FULL SQUAD MEANS MAKE-UP PRACTICES ELIMINATED FOR NEXT YEAR;
Based upon the number of returning swimmers plus the impressive tryout numbers from last month, it is a virtual guarantee that each training group within Elite will be fully subscribed next year (with 36 swimmers training in each training group). In anticipation that the previous practice of “make-ups” would thus cause overcrowding at workouts (which is what the team is attempting to prevent by limiting each training group to 36 swimmers), the previous Elite tradition of allowing “make-up” practices will NOT be offered next year.
Attendance levels will remain the same (with the one exception of Wave Golds attempting to become Senior Preps, that attendance minimum will drop to 80%).
1152 POINTS & 7TH
PLACE!!!!
KOLOGY WINS 3 JUNIOR OLYMPIC
EVENTS; 10 & UNDER GIRLS WIN FREE RELAY;
MORRISON & STRAND ADD SECTIONAL CUTS;
KOLOGY
& MORRISON FIGHT FOR HIGH POINT AWARD;
BALBO, BUCKHAM, KOLOGY, P. DUVVURI, GALEA, GORMAN, B.
MILLER-RADEST & L. STEARNS QUALIFY FOR/ADD ZONE SWIMS;
Not even Mother Nature could stop Elite.
Poised with 968 points going into the final session, the Elite 12 & Unders calmly brushed off a miserable 3 hour lightning delay at the start of the yesterday’s session and pushed the team over the momentous 1000 point total for the first time at a Junior Olympic competition. In doing so, Elite placed 7th as a team (out of 40). 28 of the 40 Elite swimmers contributed to the team point total!!!
For a point of reference, Elite’s last two summer LCM JO point totals were: 602.5 last summer and 593.5 in 2006.And Elite’s point total does not include the 12 & Under Relays from Sunday’s competition, as relays were eliminated to help the delayed session timeline. It is reasonable to believe that Elite could have added a minimum of 100 points to their point total-thus doubling last year’s total.
Leading the Elite 12 & Unders was 12 year old Regan Kology, who won 3 freestyle events. Demonstrating both her explosive power and her endurance, Regan won the 50 free (29.80), the 800 free (10.07.91) and the 1500 (19.15.37- this time is 24 seconds under the 15 & Older JO qualifying time!!!). Regan followed up with a 2nd place finish in the 400 free (4.57.50), a 3rd place finish in the 200 free (2.22.93), two 4th place finishes (100 free-1.05.42 & the 400 IM-4.57.50) and a 5th place in the 200 IM (2.42.59). The IM swim gave Regan an additional zone cut for a total of 5 (12 & Unders at Zones does not compete in the 800 or 1500 free-presumably Regan would have those cuts, too). Regan placed 3rd in the 11-12 Girls High Point race (total 139 points), just 12 points from winning the award.
Leading Elite’s 13 & Olders was 17 year old Alex Morrison, who placed 3rd (technically 2nd as the 2nd place swimmer was over 19, whom don’t place at JO’s) in both the 100 fly (58.74) and the 100 free (55.16). Alex, who is heading to Princeton this fall (he skipped a grade and is a year younger than his incoming freshman peers), placed 4th in the 50 free (25.22), 6th in the 200 back (2.12.33), 7th in both the 200 IM (2.18.21) and 100 back (1.02.79) and 10th in the 200 free (2.00.73). Morrison’s 100 free, 50 free & 200 Fly were all Sectionals qualifying times (Alex had previously qualified for Sectionals in the 100 fly).
Following Kology and Morrison’s lead, 10 year old Kaitlin Stearns deposited 91 individual points (to place 5th in the Girls 10 & U high point race). Kaitlin finished 3rd in both the 50 free (32.17) and the 200 free (2.34.19), 4th in both the 100 free (1.11.62) and the 400 free (5.27.61), 5th in the 50 back (39.42) and 7th in the 100 back (1.24.50).
Stearns was also a member of the winning Girls 10 & Under 200 Free Relay (with Andrea Galea, Caroline Nash and Gabrielle Pick). It is reasonable to assume these four would have fought for the top spot in the Medley Relay, which was cancelled as a part of yesterday’s delay).
Older sister Lindsay Stearns was also quite busy, placing tied for 9th in the 11-12 high point total with 80 points. 12 year old Lindsay placed 3rd in both the 100 (1.12.60-a zone qualifying time) & 200 (2.42.91) butterfly. Lindsay also placed 5th in the 400 IM (5.48.39-a 22 second drop), 7th in the 50 fly (33.66) and 8th in the 800 free (10.37.05-another 22 second drop).
15 year old Michael added a 6th Sectional cut to his resume by dropping over 3 seconds in the 200 breast (2.36.90) to place 6th. Michael’s best finish was in the 100 back, which he placed 4th with a 1.01.71 time. Michael also placed 6th in the 200 IM (2.17.39). Michael total point was 68.
10 year old Chris Balbo added 70 points to place 10th in his high point race, in route to 3 new zone cuts. Balbo dropped 7 seconds to place 2nd in the 400 free (5.37.21), placed 5th in the 100 back (1.25.48) and 8th twice: 200 free (2.39.80) and 100 fly (1.30.10).
14 year old Priya Duvvuri just missed her 1st Sectional qualifying time (.04) when she rocketed to a 4th place finish in the 100 fly (1.07.73). Priya also placed 4th in the 200 fly (2.32.73) and the 100 back (1.12.02) and 9th in the 50 free, finishing in a 29.49 time! Priya posted 75 points.
12 year old Ryan Buckham, who will be moving to Australia in August, earned his 1st zone time when he splashed to a 4th place in the 50 back (34.61). Ryan also placed 9th in the 50 free (30.15).
10 year old Andrea Galea placed in the top 16 in 7 of her 9 swims and qualified for zones with her 8th place finish in the 100 back (1.24.51). Andrea placed 9th in the 200 IM (3.05.79) and 10th in the 50 Free (33.97).
In a cameo appearance on his way to Belgrade (see later in the memo), 17 year old Chris Dart placed 5th in two off-events: the 800 free (8.45.11) and the 400 free (4.13.83). Chris swam these events to get in some last minute racing in preparation to his European competition.
12 year old Katie Gorman scored a zone swim when she torpedoed to a 3rd place finish in the 50 free (30.06). Coupled with Kology, Elite went 1-3 in that event. Katie also placed 8th in the 50 fly (34.06). 14 year old Brendaan Miller-Radest flexed his endurance muscles by finishing 13th in the 1500 (18.31.81-which was a zone qualifying time), and 15th in both the 800 free (9.38.74) and the 400 free (4.41.78).
14 year old Ryan Wyer touched 5th in the 50 free (26.96), 12th in the 200 fly (2.32.64) and 13th in the 100 fly (1.07.21). 14 year old Michael Li placed 6th in both his breaststroke events; 100 (1.19.54) and 200 (2.49.83). After fighting off a less minute illness last week, 12 year old Alli Dorneo still finished 7th in the 50 back, 8th in the 100 back and 16th in the 200 back.
10 year old Caroline Nash placed 8th in the 50 fly (37.74), 12th in the 100 fly (1.29.86) and 16th in the 100 free (1.17.23). 12 year old Isabella Morreale placed 9th in the 200 breast (3.10.52) and 13th in the 100 breast (1.29.47). 11 year old Zachie Katz placed 12th in the 50 breast (39.29) and 14th twice: 100 fly (1.19.40) and 50 fly (33.58).
12 year old Andrea Shepard 11th in the 1500 free (20.41.44-just two seconds over the 13-14 JO qualifying time). Andrea also placed 13th in the 800 (11.00.01) and 16th in the 400 IM (6.03.81). In one of the most surprising swims of the weekend, 9 year old Amy Duren churned her way to a 13th place finish in the 100 fly (10 seconds under her “converted” 100 time!!!).
16 year old Ricky Martin, nursing a bad knee and swimming a very limited schedule, still placed 12th in the 50 free (25.84) and 15th in the 100 fly (1.02.46). 12 year old Kara Miller-Radest placed 16th in the 50 fly (34.71). 15 year old Ali Morreale, who just aged up last week, placed 16th in the 200 breast (2.56.60). 12 year old Jeffrey Dong placed 13th in the 200 breast.
Swimmers who participated in the Junior Olympic Championships were (# in parenthesis is number of best Elite LCM best times): Chris Balbo (7), Ryan Buckham (6), Chris Dart (2), Jeffrey Dong (2), Alli Dorneo (3), Amy Duren (2), Priya Duvvuri (8), Venkatesh Duvvuri, Cassandra Farnow, Andrea Galea (9), Katie Gorman (5), Scott Harris (1), Alyssa Hartigan, Matthew Hong, Brent Jones (1), Zachie Katz (3), Gregory Keiser, Regan Kology (6), Jared Kovacs (2), Michael Li (2), Ricky Martin (1), Brendan Miller-Radest (4), Kara Miller-Radest (1), Ali Morreale (1), Isabella Morreale (2), Alex Morrison (8), Caroline Nash (4), Christina Pick (6), Gabrielle Pick (1), Brittany Ross (1), Andrea Shepard (4), Kaitlin Stearns (6), Lindsay Stearns (6), Michael Strand (5) & Ryan Wyer (3).
ELITE DOMINATES 13 & O BRONZE CHAMPS:
C.ALLOCCO, J. ALLOCCO, CHEN, S. DUREN, GRYWALSKI, MORREALE, D.
SCHERB, SCOTT, TAKAHASHI, WEINBROM WIN 14 OF 32 EVENTS!!
REILLY, D SCHERB, SINGER, WEINBROM STRIKE SILVER;
Meanwhile, across the state in Bayonne, 31 Elite swimmers also wrecked havoc on their competition in New Jersey Swimming’s 13 & Older Bronze Championships. 10 different Elite Swimmers won 14 of 32 events!!!
Leading the way for Elite was Chelsea Allocco, Jenni Allocco, Daniel Scherb and Jonathan Scott; each of who won 2 events apiece!!
16 year old Chelsea Allocco, who joined Elite 8 weeks ago, won both the 15 & Older 50 free (31.78) and the 200 IM (2.45.06). Chelsea only competed in 3 events. 13 year old Jenni Allocco won both the 13 –14 100 back (1.26.20) and the 50 free (32.82). Jenni also placed 2nd in the 200 IM (3.00.21) and 3rd in the 200 free (2.39.61). Jenni also just joined Elite.
Newcomer 14 year old Daniel Scherb won the 13-14 100 breast (1.35.82), the 200 IM (2.54.43). In addition, Daniel placed 2nd in two other events (100 fly-1.23.69) and the 200 free-2.34.34). All 5 of Daniel’s times were Silver times! 15 year old Jonathan Scott won the 15 & O 100 fly (2.16.94) and the 400 Free (5.17.08). Jonathan’s 400 free time was a 41 second drop from last year!
16 year old Erica Takahashi won the 15 & Older 100 breast (1.34.67) event while placing 2nd in the 200 free (2.27.86). 15 year old Adam Weinbrom, also new to Elite and competing only one day, won the 15 & Older 200 IM (2.39.82) while placing 2nd in the 100 breast (1.30.46) in a Silver time.
15 year old Sam Duren won the 200 Free (2.24.52) with a 21 second drop from last year! Sam also placed third in 3 different events: the 100 free (1.05.11), the 100 back (1.22.70) and the 50 free (29.94)!
17 year old Amanda Grywalski placed 1st in the 15 & Older 400 Free (5.16.59). 13 year old Stephanie Chen glided to a 1st place finish in the 13 & Older 100 breast (1.37.91) while 15 year old Ali Morreale won the 100 free (1.08.60).
14 year old Collin Reilly went Silver with a 5th place finish in the 100 fly (1.28.68), which represented a 13 second drop from last year!
16 year old Lindsay Anderson placed 2nd in the 400 Free (5.19.01) and 3rd in the 200 IM (2.55.08). 16 year old Victoria D’Altrui placed 2nd in the 200 IM (2.52.40) and 3rd in the 50 Free (32.23).
13 year old Maya Epelbaum came in 2nd in the 50 free (33.02) while 15 year old Katie Ragan placed 2nd in the 50 free (31.91). 13 year old Maggie Woodruff placed 2nd in the 100 back (1.27.31).
15 year old Maggie Nelson placed 3rd twice: 200 free (2.28.10) and 100 breast (1.38.06).
Swimmers who participated in the 13 & Older Bronze Championships were (# in parenthesis is number of best Elite LCM best times): Chelsea Allocco (3), Jenni Allocco (6), Lindsay Anderson (3), Lindsay Behar (4), Mark Berns (6), Stephanie Chen (6), Victoria D’Altrui (1), Sam Duren (5), Krishna Duvvuri (1), Maya Epelbaum (3), Ariel Gelman (5), Amanda Grywalski (1), Victoria Keiser (2), Brandon King (2), Patrick Lai (6), Jessie Lowe (3), Marisa Manzi (6), Ali Morreale, Maggie Nelson (3), Katie Ragan (2), Collin Reilly (2), Amanda Scherb, Daniel Scherb (5), Jonathan Scott (6), Jonas Singer (2), Jessica Solodkin (5), Erica Takashashi (5), Lexi Tedesco, Adam Weinbrom (2), Maggie Woodruff (4) & Richard Yu (1).
56 SWIMMERS TRYOUT LAST TUESDAY; 22 (OF 29) ACCEPTED THEIR
INVITATIONS:
From the most competitive group of swimmers in recent memory, 19 new swimmers will join Elite by reason of the July 22nd tryouts. The new talent is young and eager to work hard: Those swimmers who have accepted their invitations to train with Elite during the Winter 2008-09 season are:
Wave Teals: Morgan Conley, Matt Critchley, Deyoung Don, Katie Fell, Jason Hoehn, Andrew Huang, Charlotte Morrissey & Camille Relota
Marlin Blacks: Emily
Buckman, Katie Iovel & Nicole McMaster
Marlin Teals: Annie Botte, Sarah Burn, Richard Carchia, Ava Fitzsimons, Alex Jacobs, Sara Jacobs, Madison Kretten, Ian McMaster, Sandeepan Mukherjee, Natalie Pruitt & Jack Wenzel
Make-up Tryouts will be held Tuesday, September 2 at Newark Academy from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
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