ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               11-07-05

 

FLASHES OF BRILLANCE AT FALL FESTIVAL;

DART CONTINUES RECORD ASSAULT: 

 

Competing in its first “major” competition of the season, Elite swimmers posted 122 best times in 226 swims (53.9%) this past weekend at Fall Festival held at Princeton University. One of the (physically) largest meets of the season, Elite held their own as they competed against 34 other NJ teams and 1,300 swimmers in the 4 age groups. Fall Festival is traditionally New Jersey Swimming’s “start” of the winter competition as the meet features most of the best swimmers in the state competing in their best events.

 

            Fourteen year old Chris Dart (Chris turns 15 in late December) continued his unrelenting assault on the Boys 13-14 year old record books by breaking the 100 and 200 yd backstroke Fall Festival Meet Records. In addition, Chris won all 6 events he participated in: 100 back (54.19), 200 back (2.00.24), 100 breast (1.03.34), 100 butterfly (55.13), 200 IM (2.02.28) and the 400 IM (4.22.69). Each of his swims was a #1 “all time best” Elite swim for a 13-14 year old boy!!! Chris accomplished all this while in the midst of rigorous training as the Seniors did not ease of their training schedule for this meet.         

 

            Eleven year old standout Michael Li also performed magnificently, as he posted 6 best times including a 7 second drop in his 200 yd IM.  Each of his 6 swims improved upon already achieved Junior Olympic qualifying times. Michael placed 5th in the 11-12 Boys 50 yd breast (34.45) and 6th in the 100 yd breast (1.16.27).

 

 The following eight swimmers qualified for 13 Junior Olympics events with performances this weekend:

 

            1) 12 year old Greg Keiser became a 1st time Junior Olympic qualifier with two fabulous breaststroke swims. Greg dropped 4.55 seconds in this 50 yd. breast (36.45) and an astounding 15.16 seconds in his 100 yd. breast (1.20.93)!!

 

            2) 12 year old Priya Duvvuri continued adding to her Junior Olympic event list as she dropped over 6 seconds in her 200 yd IM race (2.35.80) and 2 seconds in her 100 yd Fly race (1.12.48)

           

            3) to be 10 year old (this week) Courtney Brosnan added to her Junior Olympic qualifying times to her schedule as she dropped 8.5 seconds in her 100 yd back (1.23.02) and 5 seconds in her 100 yd free (1.13.74) swim

 

            4) 10 year old Krishna Duvvuri qualified for JO’s in 3 events: 50 yd Free (32.49), 50 yd breast (42.67) & 100 yd breast (1.35.60). Unfortunately, Krishna ages up in February

 

 

 

            5) 16 year old Crissy Condus posted a Junior Olympic cut in the grueling 200 fly

(2.22.44) swim

 

            6) 12 year old Carolyn DeMeo rocketed to a Junior Olympic cut in the 50 yard free with a 27.99 time

 

            7) 12 year old Emmie Lai churned to a JO time in the 50 yd butterfly event (32.36)

 

            8) 10 year old Peter Davey dropped 7.5 seconds in his 200 yd IM swim (3.02.17), to post a JO cut time

 

            Other noteworthy swims were:

 

            1) 14 year old Cassandra Farnow just missed a Junior Olympic qualifying time in the 200 yd back

           

            2) Venkatesh Duvvuri dropped 12 seconds in his 200 yd IM while teammate Duncan Hall dropped 11 seconds.

 

            Swimmers who participated were (# in parathesis is # of best times): Danni Basile (3), Courtney Brosnan (3), Ryan Buckham (1), Josh Choi (1), Crissy Condus (6), Chris Dart (6), Peter Davey (3), Corey Deatly (2), Tad Deatly (5), Carolyn DeMeo (3), Claire DiGiacomo, Shelby Dixon (1), Krishna Duvvuri (4), Priya Duvvuri (4), Venkatesh Duvvuri (4), Mickey Ennis (2), Kevin Estok (3), Cassandra Farnow (6), Kristen Fedor (1), Breana Fitzpatrick (1), Julianne Furdyna (1), Alex Gonzalez (6), Alistair Hall, Duncan Hall (4), Jerel Ho (3), Kim Jones (1), Gregory Keiser (3), Katie Kilcullen (1), David Knaus (3), Regan Kology (1), Emmie Lai (2), Michael Li (6), Danielle Martinez (2), Colleen Mason (1), Megan Mataga (6), Annie McCullough (2), Katie McCullough, Shayla McDonnell, Sarah McGrath (1), Austin Meszaros (2), Ali Morreale (3), Maggie Nelson (4), Sarah Peay, Will Peters (4), Chris Plunkett (1), Matthew Poloniak (1), Katie Ragan, Brittany Ross (1), Nicki Ross (1), Amanda Scherb, Lindsay Scott, Veronica Smith (), Lily Thompson (1), Nick Trojanowski (3) & Kayla Wolonsky (3),

 

The full results are posted on the website under meet results.

 

FIFTEEN SWIMMERS HEADED TO PITTSBURGH FOR CHRISTMAS INVITATIONAL: 

 

            Elite will field a team of 15 swimmers for the 44th annual Christmas Invitational Meet to be held Friday, December 16 thru Sunday, December 18 at the University of Pittsburgh.

 

 

 

 

            Swimmers who have qualified are: Danielle Basile, Crissy Condus, Chris Dart, Cassandra Farnow, Julianne Furdyna, Alex Gonzalez, Katie Inglese, Kim Jones, Katie Kilcullen, Danielle Martinez, Colleen Mason, Austin Meszaros, Maggie Nelson, Brittany Ross & Veronica Smith.

 

            The Christmas Invitational is the oldest “holiday” championship meet in the country. Elite only takes swimmers who are 13 & Older. Elite swimmers who are 12 & Under and have qualified for the Holiday Classic will be entered in that meet, which is held this year on the same weekend at Rutgers.

 

            Meet entries and hotel accomondations for these swimmers have been already made. These swimmers need to contact Bill if they plan to travel to and from Pittsburgh in the team van (holds 11 swimmers).

 

DISTANCE DERBY THIS WEEKEND:

 

            Elite will host the 3rd annual Distance Derby meet this weekend at Morristown-Beard School. This is the 1st of two New Jersey Swimming Sanctioned meets that Elite will host this winter (the other being the 9-10 Silver/Bronze South Championships in February).  Six teams will compete: Caldwell Cyclones, Elite, Morris County Swim Club, Sea Dragons Swim Club, The Atlantic Club & Wyckoff Family YMCA.

 

            Coordinating the efforts of the Distance Derby are the following: 1) Wave Teals: Wendy Reilly and Margie Lowe 2) Wave Blacks: Keika Takahashi and Sherry Plunkett 3) Wave Golds: Pam McCullough and 4) Seniors/Senior Preps: Rita Furdyna. If you have not yet corresponded with your training group coordinator, please do so immediately!!!

 

            Warm-up times will be posted shortly on the website.

 

SWIM MEETS ON THE HORIZON:

 

            Elite’s meet schedule remains extremely very busy thru the middle of December. Upcoming meets include:

 

            1)  Saturday, November 12 and Sunday, Novermber 13: Distance Derby: All swimmers in the Wave Teals, Wave Blacks, Wave Golds, Senior Preps and Seniors. Meet & Event Information now posted on the website under Meet Schedule

 

            2) Sunday, November 20: Dual Meet verses Caldwell at Caldwell: All Marlins, All Wave Teals, All Wave Blacks and Some Wave Golds. Meet information to be posted shortly (awaiting info from Caldwell).

 

            3) Sunday, December 4: IntraClub Meet at Morristown-Beard1): 10 & Unders will compete from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm while 11 & Olders will compete from 1:30 to 4:00 pm. Meet & Event Information now posted on the website under Meet Schedule

 

            4) Sunday, December 4: Gator Gridiron Meet: for Seniors and Senior Preps (only those NOT attending the Christmas Meet in Pittsburgh). Meet information to be posted shortly

 

            5) Sunday, December 11: Dual Meet verses: Caldwell at Morristown-Beard School. 10 & Unders will compete from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm while 11 & Olders will compete from 1:30 to 4:00 pm. Meet information to be posted shortly

 

            6) Friday, December 16 thru Sunday, December 18: Christmas Meet in Pittsburgh. Only qualifying Seniors and Senior Preps.  Updated meet information to be posted shortly

 

            7) Friday, December 16 thru Sunday, December 18: Holiday Classic at Rutgers. Only qualifying 12 & Unders. Meet information to be posted shortly

 

OLYMPIAN TARA KIRK COMING TO ELITE:

 

            Bubblely breaststroker Tara Kirk, an Olympic Silver Medalist at the 2004 Olympic Games, will visit Elite on Saturday, January 28, 2006.

 

            Tara will be the 6th Olympian who has visited visited Elite for a (4 hour) stroke clinic. Past Olympians to visit Elite are: Dr. Ron Karnaugh, Tom Wilkins, Jenny Thompson, Janet Evans and Neil Walker.

 

            Originally from Washington State, Tara is a graduate of Standford University and an 11 time NCAA Champion!! Also noteworthy is that Tara, and her sister Dana, were the 1st sisters to qualify for the same US Olympic Squad.

 

            Tara is known for her ever present smile and gracious personality. One can check out Tara’s career by going to the USA Swimming website (usaswimming.org) and reading her bio under “swimmers.”

 

            Information on how to reserve a spot at this clinic will be forthcoming shortly. This clinic will only be offered to Elite Swimmers. The clinic will be held Saturday, January 28 at Morristown-Beard School from 2 pm to 6 pm.

 

PARENTS ORGANIZATION HAS BALL ROLLING:

 

            Showing as much energy as their swimmers, parents and their committees are gathering momentum with regards to the different tasks needed completed by the Parents Organization:

 

FUNDRAISER:

 

            This committee plans to hold an “Elite merchandise” sale as a fundraiser prior to the holidays (think of all those Elite gifts at holiday time!!!). All items would be adorned with an Elite theme or logo. To get this sale moving, the committee asks for your ideas as to merchandise to be offered. Suggestions so far include: flannel pants & shorts, basketball shorts, t-shirts, collar shirts, “Elite-Strong” bracelets, car magnet & swim bag.

 

            To help the committee to understand the interest in these items or for you to add a suggestion of your own, swimmers and parents are STRONGLY urged to contact Jodi Shepard jc.shepard2@verizon.net . 

 

PUBLICITY:

 

            The Publicity Committee’s first effort was successful as the Independent Press published this week a picture of Christina, Gabrielle and Michelle Pick, complete in their swimming attire with Hall-o-ween themed racing caps.

 

            The 1st step to have your swimmer as part of Elite’s publicity push is for a parent to sign the Publicity Waiver that authorizes Elite to use pictures of these swimmers. The Publicity Waiver is now posted on the website under “Forms.” Please place the signed waiver in Bill’s Mailbox at Newark Academy.