ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               11-09-09         

 

 

STRAND BREAKS MEET RECORD IN WINNING 100 BACK AT NYC OPEN: PLACES 3RD IN THE 100 FLY; P. DUVVURI & KOLOGY ALSO FINAL IN HIGHLY COMPETITIVE & UNUSUAL MEET:

 

Six of Elite’s most accomplished swimmers participated in the New York City Open Invitational this past weekend, competing against some of the top talent in the Northeast. Three of the 6 swimmers “finaled” 10 times, demonstrating once again that Elite is climbing the swimming ladder of success.

 

Swimming in the “Ultra Final” where only the two fastest preliminary swimmers square off, Michael Strand nailed his 100 yard back, churning to a sensational 50.50 time that set a new meet record in the short course yards portion of the meet. Michael’s preliminary swim of 100 long course back (1.00.15), was also a record breaker, but Michael placed 2nd in prelims behind former Stanford University swimmer Hongzhe Sun who now owns that record.

 

To put Michael’s performance into perspective, Michael’s time was .6 seconds faster than his previous Junior National qualifying time and is a full 2 seconds faster than he swam last year at this meet. It is also less than 1 second from a Senior National qualifying time (49.59).

 

            Because of its highly competitive qualifying times (USA Swimming’s AAA 15-16 motivational times) and its unique format, the NYC Open attracts elite Northeast teams such as the Attleboro Bluefish (Massachusetts), Asphalt Green (host NYC team), Badger Swim Club (Westchester County), Long Island Swim Club, Bernal’s Gators (Massachusetts) and Shawmut Aquatic Club (Massachusetts), along with NJ swimming powerhouses Peddie Aquatic, Scarlet Aquatic, New Jersey Wave and Eastern Express. The meet is unique in that it is a championship style meet with prelims racing in the am in a long course venue while finals are held in the mid afternoon (short recovery time) and is raced in the short course yards venue. In addition, there are 4 final heats (heat 1-swimmers placing 13 thru 20 in the morning prelim heats, heat 2-swimmers 7 thru 12, heat 3-swimmers 3 thru 6 and the “ultra” final-swimmers, where am finishers 1 & 2 race mano-e-mano!). This format forces the swimmers to race in the grueling am lcm venue just to get to finals and then forces swimmers to race at top form again in finals in the short course venue.  The meet is constructed this way to challenge even the most seasoned and accomplished swimmer.

 

            Olympian Elizabeth Beisel (from Rhode Island though she trains with the Bluefish in Massachusetts), who placed 4th and 5th in Beijing, was present at the meet and competed against the metropolitan area talent along with Sara Giberson, a Junior Nationals winner this past summer and Laura Morford, an 2008 Olympic Trials qualifier.

 

            On Saturday, Swimming in the “Super” finals after placing 7th in the long course prelims (and moving up one due to a scratch), Strand rocketed to his career best in outpacing his heat with a blistering 51.53 100 yard fly time to place 3rd and win the Super finals. This time is just .4 over a Junior National bonus qualifying time and 1.3 from a Junior National qualifying time!! Strand was also 2 seconds faster than last year’s 100 fly time (53.28) at this meet.

 

Strand also placed 13th in the 50 scy free (in another career best 22.05) and placed  17th in the 200 backstroke (2.00.09).

 

16 year old Priya Duvvuri finaled 3 times during the weekend. Her best performance was in the 100 butterfly, where she placed 14th with a 1.00.31 scy time after posting a 1.09.53 time in lcm prelims. Priya finished 17th in the 100 scy back with a 1.02.24 time following her am 1.12.02 lcm time. Priya was 19th in the 200 scy back with a 2.15.01 scy time following her am 2.36.07 performance.

 

13 year old Regan Kology, in her first appearance at this meet, showed little respect for her elders as she also finaled 3 times. Regan placed 16th in the 50 scy free (25.80), 18th in the 500 free (5.17.78) and 19th in the 100 scy (56.84). Regan also competed in the 200 lcm (2.16.54), the 800 lcm free (9.40.47) and the 200 IM (2.38.26).

 

Alex Mango and Adam Weinbrom had fun in the prelim 100 lcm back competition. Seated with nearly identical times, Alex and Adam ended up in the same heat, in adjoining lanes racing in an Elite battle royale! Both swam very well and actually touched with identical 1.07.12 times!!!

 

Mango also participated in the 200 lcm free (2.07.70), 100 lcm fly (1.06.66), the 50 lcm free (27.12), the 400 lcm free (4.30.87) and the 100 lcm (58.71).

 

Weinbrom, sick earlier in the week so he missed Saturday’s portion of the meet, also competed in the 100 free (59.14).

 

Duncan Hall was the only 2 meet swimmer this weekend; Duncan competed in the 50 lcm free (26.72) before heading to Princeton on Sunday to compete at Fall Festival.   

 

           Full results of the meet can be view at http://www.asphaltgreen.org/AGUAmeets/index.htm.

 

 

IMPRESSIVE TEAM FALL FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE; KATZ (5) & A. IIZUKA WIN EVENTS;

BIGHAM, A. GALEA & M. TORTORELLA PLACE 2ND; C. BALBO (3) 3RD;

CRITCHLEY, A. DUVVURI (2), A. GALEA (4), S. HARRIS, KATZ, I. LARAIA (3), NASH (4), PETERSON (2), SEBASTIAN, G. SORIANO, K. STEARNS (2) & L. STEARNS (3) ADD 25 JO CUTS;

 

            12 year old Zach Katz led Elite this past weekend at Fall Festival as the team participated in its second major test of the new season. Held at Princeton University’s DeNunzio Pool, this meet is an annual rite for most Elite swimmers.

 

            The team’s performance was very impressive. Competing in 657 races, the team posted 412 new best times (62.7%!!). Competing against 29 other teams (NJ Swimming has approximately 60 teams), Elite won 6 of 104 events (5.7%!!). 13 Elite swimmers added 25 new Junior Olympic times to the team totals (3 new swimmers!!). Team JO total is now at 32 swimmers in 136 events!!!

 

            Katz, won the first 5 events he competed in best time fashion. His 100 breast time of 1.08.88 is an Elite All-Time best, while his other wins (100 fly-1.03.27), 400 IM-5.02.98, 200 IM-2.18.38 & 200 breast-2.34.67) are all within the top 3 of Elite’s best times. Zach also placed 4th in the 200 butterfly. Katz, who ages up in January, actually added a JO cut (his 3rd) in his new age group in the 200 breast swim.

 

            10 year old Alicia Iizuka was nearly a full second faster than the 2nd place finisher in winning the 100 yard breast in a 1.26.63 time. Hoarding the top place finishes within the family, identical twin Karen Iizuka placed 4th in the same event (1.29.45).

 

            11 year old Andrea Galea dropped 7.5 seconds in placing 2nd in the 200 backstroke. Galea also dropped 3 seconds in her 100 back, to touch 4th. Galea also posted 4 new JO times in her other events: 100 fly (1.12.23), 100 free (1.00.39), 50 free (28.28) and 500 free (6.02.47).

 

10 year old Abbie Bigham, who has nursed a sore shoulder this fall and has kicked many practices, showed her resiliency by dropping 6 seconds to place 2nd in the 500 yard free (6.59.85). Abbie also placed 6th in two events (200 free-2.36.91 & 100 butterfly-1.25.92) and nabbed 7th place in the 200 IM (2.53.39).

 

10 year old Michael Tortorella, who has been sick the past two weeks, also hung tough to place 2nd in the 100 breast (1.27.58). Tortorella had earlier placed 7th in the 50 breast (40.89).

 

11 year old Chris Balbo was the 3rd fastest swimmer in 3 separate events: 200 back (2.27.15), the 400 IM (5.14.11-a 20 second drop) & the 500 free (5.46.14). Balbo added to 6th place finished to his haul (200 IM-2.31.31 & 200 fly (2.36.50).

 

14 year old Lindsay Stearns placed 4th in the 200 butterfly with a 2.19.12 time. Lindsay doubled her JO schedule this coming spring by adding 3 qualifying times to her resume: the 200 free (2.05.38), the 200 IM-2.22.01 & the 100 free (57.48). In an event where she was already gold, Lindsay dropped 8 seconds to place 7th in the 400 IM (4.57.20)!

 

12 year old Isabel LaRaia continued her splendid swimming, adding 3 JO qualifying times to the one she scored two weeks ago at Halloween. Isabel gathered gold in the both the grueling 500 free (where she placed 4th with a 5.54.80 time-22 second drop) & the 400 IM (5.24.74- a 32 second drop for 9th place). LaRaia also added the 200 IM with her 2.33.62 performance.

 

11 year old Caroline Nash garnered 4 new Junior Olympic times this weekend with her highest finish being in the 200 butterfly (2.40.12-a 9 second drop). Caroline also went gold in the 400 IM (5.38.02- a 15 second drop), the 100 fly (1.12.36) and the 500 free (6.02.95- a 32 second drop). Caroline also dropped 15 seconds in her 200 back (2.36.40).

 

12 year old Avinash Duvvuri is now tied with his sister Priya for the Duvvuri JO event high total (4 apiece) by adding 2 events this weekend: the 100 (1.18.18) and 200 breast (2.57.35). Brother Venka, who had a dazzling 200 fly swim (2.05.38) is close behind with 3.

 

12 year old newcomer Danielle Peterson dropped 8 seconds in the 200 breast (2.49.92) and 4 seconds in the 100 breast (1.19.08) to qualify for JO’s in both these events. Danielle also dropped 8 seconds in her 100 back event (1.19.34).

 

11 year old Kaitlin Stearns pushed her JO total to 8 with 2 new conquests: 400 IM (5.42.03-15th place) and the 100 back (1.09.20). Kaitlin also placed 7th in the 500 free (5.59.66) and 9th in the 100 free (1.00.25).

 

12 year old Scott Harris posted his 1st Junior Olympic time this season in stud-like fashion: the 200 breast (2.58.88-a 12 second drop).

 

13 year old Ryan Sebastian ran his JO totals to 7, with his 17 second drop in the 500 free (5.19.24). Sebastian was 6th in two of his events: 400 IM (4.45.53) and the 200 butterfly (2.13.75).

 

11 year old Matthew Critchley continues to impress as he added his 3rd JO qualifying time to his resume: the 100 breast (1.21.51-a 3.7 second drop).

 

10 year old Gian Soriano, a newcomer to Elite this fall, added his 2nd JO in as many meets, this time in the 50 free (31.79).

 

10 year old Emily Gorham placed 4th in her 100 fly (1.23.84), 5th in her 100 back (1.17.40) and 7th in the 50 free (30.90). 10 year old Katherine Friday placed 8th in the 100 butterfly (1.28.00). 14 year old Lindsey Giostra was 9th in the 200 breast (2.39.16). 13 year old Kara Miller-Radest placed 8th in the 100 fly (1.03.64).

 

Incredibly, 47 Elite swimmers had either 6 or 5 best times!! The following swimmers had 6 best swims in 6 attempts: Elizabeth D’Altrui, Will Delaney, Andrea Galea, Jess Gorham, Andre Guacelli, Scott Harris, Alyssa Hartigan, Matthew Hong, Patrick Hong, Alicia Iizuka, Rachel Kesselman, Jared Kovacs, Clark LaRaia, Isabel LaRaia, Brandon Li, Iasbella Morreale, Caroline Nash, Evan Ng, Gabrielle Pick, Lindsay Stearns, Vivan Xia, Grace Xu  & Richard Yu.

 

The following swimmers had 5 best swims: Abbie Bigham, Daniel Chu, Jessica Chu, Morgan Conley, Jimmy Coyne, Matt Critchley, Jeffrey Dong, Alli Dorneo, Avinash Duvvuri, Andrea Ferrell, RJ Fresen, Katherine Friday, Lindsay Giostra, Emily Gorham, Karen Iizuka, Zach Katz, Charlotte Morrissey, Eugene Ng, Michael Nitting, Danielle Peterson, Camile Relota, Katy Shepard, Jonas Singer & Claire Xu.

 

Swimmers who participated (# in parathesis is number of best Elite SCY best times):  Matt Ahlmeyer (3), Chelsea Allocco (2), Jenni Allocco, Lindsay Anderson, Chris Balbo (2), Megan Balbo (3), Brielle Barba (2), Abbie Bigham (5), Caitlin Brown (6), Emily Buckman (4), John Burns (1), Meggie Butler (2), Richie Carchia (3), Brannon Cho (1), Daniel Chu (5), Jessica Chu (5), Morgan Conley (5), Jimmy Coyne (5), Matthew Critchley (5), Elizabeth D’Altrui (6), Victoria D’Altrui, Tad Deatly (2), Carolyn Delaney, Kelly Delaney (3), Will Delaney (6), Anthony Don (3), Jeffrey Dong (5), Alli Dorneo (5), Amy Duren (2), Sam Duren (3), Avinash Duvvuri (5), Krishna Duvvuri (2), Venka Duvvuri (1), Lindsay Ellerthorpe (2), Juliet Felsen (4), Andrea Ferrell (5), Andy Fresen (4), RJ Fresen (5), Katherine Friday (5), Andrea Galea (6), Clio Galea (4), Patrick Gilfillan (1), Lindsay Giostra (5), Emily Goad (1), Emily Gorham (5), Jess Gorham (6), Kevin Greener (2), Andre Guacelli (6), Duncan Hall, Emma Harris (5), Scott Harris (6), Alyssa Hartigan (6), Matthew Hong (6), Patrick Hong (6), Jennifer Huo (4), Alicia Iizuka (6), Erica Iizuka (4), Karen Iizuka (5), Monica Iizuka, Ria Iizuka (1), Katie Iovel (2), Brent Jones (3), Zach Katz (5), Rachel Keselman (6), Jared Kovacs (6), Jessica Kraus, Emmie Lai (1), Clark LaRaia (6), Isabel LaRaia (6), Brandon Li (5), Michael Li (4), Jessie Lowe (4), Sarah Lowe (2), Danielle Martinez, Cody Matheson (4), Katie McGrath (3), Karl Melchior (1), Brendan Miller-Radest, Kara Miller-Radest (3), Ali Morreale, Isabella Morreale (6), Charlotte Morrissey (5), Sandeepan Mukherjee (2), Julia Muro (2), Caroline Nash (6), Alexandra N’Diaye, Maggie Nelson (1), Eugene Ng (5), Evan Ng (6), Rebecca Niccolai, Michael Nitting (5), Dara O’Gorman, Danielle Peterson (4), Christina Pick (3), Gabrielle Pick (6), Michelle Pick (3), Katie Ragan, Camille Relota (5), Daniel Scherb (2), Ryan Sebastian (4), Andrea Shepard (3), Katy Shepard (5), Jonas Singer (5), Gian Soriano (3), Kaitlin Stearns (5), Lindsay Stearns (6), Will Stearns, Brittany Sun (2), Erica Takahashi, Sachi Tanwar (1), Lexi Tedesco, Abir Thakur (4), Michael Tortorella (3), Rachael Tortorella (3), Amy Tsay (3), Katie Tselepis, Sarah Weinbrom, Jack Wenzel (1), Ryan Wyer (1), Vivian Xia (6), Claire Xu (5), Gloria Xu (3), Grace Xu (6), Remenna Xu (1), Richard Yu (6) & Carolyn Zhu (1).

 

“COLLEGE DAY”; BILL TO DISCUSS THE COLLEGE HUNTING/SWIMMING RECRUITMENT PROCESS ON FRIDAY, NOV 27:

 

            All swimmers (particularly juniors and sophomores) and all parents are welcome to a seminar Bill will conduct on Friday, Nov 27 at Morristown-Beard School from 10:30 am to 11:30 am regarding the College Hunting/Swimming Recruitment process.

 

            Bill will provide his insight into 1) when to start the college hunting process 2) how to determine what colleges are right for the student 3) if your swimmer plans to swim in college, how to attack the recruiting process and 4) when and how often to engage conversation with college swim coaches.

 

            Swimmers should bring pens and several pieces of paper to take notes.

 

DISTANCE DERBY 2 WEEKS OUT; RESPONANCE TO CAROLYN BALBO’S COORDINATION EMAIL EXCELLENT:

 

            In order to help provide racing opportunities for our swimmers, Elite hosts or co-hosts New Jersey Swimming/USA Swimming sanctioned meets thru the swimming year (September thru July). Times from these meets are downloaded into USA Swimming’s SWIMS database (truly, the national swimming database for times, as in addition to USA Swimming meets, YMCA championship meets and NCAA championship meets are included in this database). One can access this database at http://www.usaswimming.org/usasweb/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=358&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en-US.

 

            This year (Sept 2009 thru July, 2010), Elite will host 2 meets and co-host 3 meets. Co-hosting meets allows Elite to run meets without the full burden of hosting the meet. Hosting meets is a significant burden on the club’s membership (fully recognized by the coaching staff and appreciated). Both hosting and co-hosting meets provides our swimmers and swimmers from other clubs “splash” opportunities in racing situations. Next weekend, X-Cel at Fall Festival will be providing that opportunity for our club. Thus, NJ Swimming is a community, and Elite needs to do its part as part of this swimming community.

 

            The first meet Elite hosts each year is Distance Derby, to be held this year on Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22 (2 weeks out) at Newark Academy.  All Elite swimmers in the Senior and Wavebuster training groups are entered into this meet. Parents of every swimmer in the Senior and Wavebuster training groups (Gold, Black and Teal) are expected to work this meet in the sessions that their swimmer(s) are participating in as part of their parental obligation to Elite. Jobs include officiating, timing, concessions, admissions, coaches hospitality, set-up & clean-up.

 

            Coordinating this year’s Distance Derby Parents is Carolyn Balbo (thanks Carolyn!). Carolyn will be emailing a questionnaire to all parents this week requesting preferences as to what work each parent prefers. Response to Carolyn’s emails has been terrific! (thanks parents!). As of Thurday, only 12 parents had not responded to the initial email. Carolyn’s email is: cbalbo@comcast.net.

 

            A total non-response will require Carolyn to place those non-response workers in positions she needs filled, rather than their preference.

 

            If a parent/family forsees a problem fulfilling their parental obligation, they need to contact Carolyn asap. In the past, parents/families have fulfilled their parental obligation by having a relative (grandparents or siblings) work, or even hiring a worker for their spot. Thus, there is almost no reason a parental obligation can be fulfilled.

 

            Any family who does not fulfill their parental obligation will be jeopardizing their swimmer’s roster spot on Elite. We expect parents to step up and help when it is Elite’s turn to provide splash opportunities for the greater swimming community.

 

PARENTS: PLEASE BE PROMPT IN PICKING UP SWIMMERS:

 

            Parents are requested to be prompt in picking up their swimmers at the end of practice. Recently, especially after the Wave Golds on weekdays and the Wave Teals on Saturday, swimmers have had to wait 30-45 minutes after practice for their ride.

 

            Bill has asked the coaches to remain at practice until the last child has been picked up (for the obvious safety reasons). Coaches are more than willing to do so occasionally. But Elite coaches have other full time jobs and several are attending school in addition to their primary jobs and coaching. It is unfair to ask the coaches to spend an additional 30-40 minutes waiting for parents to pick up their children virtually every night.

 

            Elite is prompt about ending practice on time. Please help out the coaches by being prompt to pick up your child.

 

MEET SCHEDULE & MEET ENTRIES UPDATED!!;

 

            Updated information has prompted changes to the meet schedule while last weekend’s performances have allowed Elite to update some of their meet entries. It is advisable to double check both.

 

PRACTICE SCHEDULE CHANGES (SLIGHTLY) NOVEMBER 16 FOR MARLIN TEALS & MARLIN BLACKS….

 

Swimmers and Parents are reminded that the practice schedule will change come Monday, November 16. The changes will only affect the Marlin Teals and the Marlin Blacks practices.

           

Starting Monday, November 16, Newark Academy’s high school and middle schools will begin training for their winter competitions. To accommodate NA, the immediate effect will be that the Marlin Teals and Marlin Blacks will “lose” 15 minutes of training (actually, we add 15 minutes of training in September and October and just revert back to the original practice schedule) and begin training at 5:15 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays. Practice for these groups will still conclude at 6:00 pm.

 

….JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE NOT TO LOOK AT OUR PRACTICE SCHEDULE: HIGH SCHOOL MEETS TO DISRUPT PRACTICES:

 

            In December, January and thru the middle of February, high school & middle school swim teams conduct practice and meets at the two pools Elite uses. Incredibly, a total of 7 high school and middle school teams use either Newark Academy or Morristown-Beard School during this time in addition to Elite. What these means to us is that Elite’s practices will be disrupted as meets will encroach into Elite’s practice times.

 

            On days when there are no meets, Elite’s practices will be held at the identical time. However, on those days when a high school or middle school is using one of our pools for a meet, our practices might be shortened at the front end or on the back end. And meets get canceled and rescheduled. So, please continue to check the practice schedule for practice time changes on a daily basis!!

 

PARENTS: PLEASE WATCH YOUR SWIMMERS SIBLINGS DURING PRACTICE:

 

            Parents watching practice are urged to keep track of your swimmer’s siblings. Accidents have occurred in the past to unattended (and even attended) siblings.

 

            Parents are reminded that their swimmers are covered by USA Swimming’s master insurance policy while at practice. Siblings are not covered by this policy. Caution is requested when dealing with swimmer’s siblings.

 

            Parent also need to be aware that the space behind the Newark Academy bleachers is very dangerous. There are steel ropes holding the bleachers to the back wall. There has been a accident involving a child and these steel ropes in the past and parents are requested not to let anyone play or be behind the bleachers.

 

MEETS MEANS TIMING COORDINATION:

 

            In order for Elite swimmers to compete in meets (starting in 2 weeks!), Elite parents are expected to provide assistance in timing.  At non-Elite hosted NJ Swimming meets, Elite will be asked to cover a lane or two each session of the meet. At Elite-hosted NJ Swimming meets and at Elite dual meets, Elite will be expected to cover 6-8 lanes during the sessions. As a condition of having a swimmer on Elite, each parent obligated themselves to volunteer to help out when needed.

 

            Carolyn Balbo, Lisa Allocco, Jennifer Tortorella and Antone Balbo will coordinate the timing assignments the week before those non-Elite hosted NJ Swimming meets Elite attends (such as Hall-o-ween and Fall Festival. These volunteers have asked the following:

 

“Please add the following four email addresses to your e-mail address book to ensure you receive important information regarding Elite Hosted Meets, Timing Information for all other meets and Parent Association Information.  Adding the e-mail addresses will insure that these important e-mails do not go to your junk/spam folder.”

 

Carolyn Balbo -                   cbalbo@comcast.net

Lisa Allocco -                        lallocco@alcatel-lucent.com

Jennifer Tortorella -           jctortorella@gmail.com

Antone Balbo -                    abalbo@comcast.net

 

CLOTHING ITEMS CAN BE PURCHASED THRU ESCPO:

 

            The Elite Swim Club Parents Organization is offering “Elite-wear” to anyone interested in buying clothing with the Elite logo or name on it. This items are great birthday and holiday gifts.

 

            The link to the items available is: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Parents Org/ELITE 2009 Clothing.pdf

 

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!!!