ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 11-13-06

AMIDST SWIMMING STARS, CHRIS SHINES BRIGHT!

MESZAROS, STRAND AND MARTIN ALSO FINAL:

Competing in a unique meet format against some of the best swimmers in the Northeast, Chris Dart dazzled his competitors and team mates this past weekend with a magnificent performance at the New York City 2006 Open held at Asphalt Green facility on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Chris won the Men’s 200 individual Medley (1.57.82), placed 2^nd in the 100 back and captured 3^rd place in both the 200 back and the 200 breast. Overall, Chris placed 2^nd in the Men’s High Point race with 128 points!!! Chris also finaled in the 100 fly and the 100 yard breast. In fact, Chris’s only disappointment was not winning the 100 back; he literally had no rest as he competed only 12 minutes after winning the 200 IM!!!!

Ironically, Chris only posted a single best time over the weekend (out of 12 swims). Being early in the season, best times at this level of competition are hard to come by. However, Chris was extremely close to most of his best times, while his competitors remained much further back of their best times (which bodes well for the rest of the season).

Chris accomplish all this while competing in a meet that featured the following Olympic hopefuls (AND REMEMBER THESE NAMES FOR 2008!!): 1) Kate Zeigler of The Fish (Virginia) who this summer became the 2^nd woman to break 16:00 in the 1500 meter swim (at the Pan Pacific Meet in August). Kate turned in an incredible performance of a 4:43 500 yard free, 9:37 1000 yard free, a 1:47 200 yard free AND a 50.48 100 yard free! 2) 14 year old Elizabeth Beisel of Attleboro (Mass) BlueFish who also qualified to represent the USA in the Pan Pacific Meet this past summer won the 400 yard IM with a 4.25.71 3) Westchester NY (Badger Swim Club’s) Alex Forrester, who won the 100 yard butterfly (55.97), the 200 yard butterfly (2.03.63) and the overall Women’s High Point Award and 4) 12 year old (and two months-turned 12 just last September) Annie Zhu of LaGuardia Aquatics in Long Island who broke the National 12 & Under records in both the 100 yard breaststroke (1.03.54!!!) and the 200 yard breaststroke races (2.16.47!!!).

The NYC Open’s unique meet format consisted of the following: preliminary finals in the morning in a long course (50 meter) pool followed by finals in the afternoon in a short course (25 yard pool)!! Even finals had a great twist: rather than the standard 2 or 3 heats of 8 swimmers; NYC Open had 4 heats: heat 1: bonus final of 8 swimmers, heat 2: consolation final of 6 swimmers, heat 3: super finals of 4 swimmers and heat 4: ulta finals of just the top 2 morning qualifiers. The demanding meet format required the best swimmers to race hard in the morning to qualify for the top heat of 2 swimmers at night.

Feeding off of Chris’s torrid swimming were teammates Austin Meszaros: who placed 9^th in the 50 yard free (22.96) and placed 16^th in the 100 yard free (50.86); 13 year old Michael Strand: who placed 18^th in the 200 yard back (2.05.85) and 14 year old Ricky Martin: who placed 16^th in the 50 Free 23.52 (remember, these were open events-all ages) so Strand’s and Martin’s swims in finals were particularly impressive.

Elite results are posted on the Elite website and complete will be posted on the Metropolitan Swimming (metroswimming.org) website shortly

WAVE GOLD/WAVE BLACK DISTANCE NIGHT A 2^ND YEAR SUCCESS:

For the 2^nd year in a row, Elite has successfully run a “Distance Night” for all swimmers in the Wavebuster Gold and Wavebuster Black training groups. Like last January’s competition, last Friday night’s meet boasted plenty of spectacular swimming by the Elite stars of the future:

1) 10 year old Andrea Shepard knocked 79 (that is not a typo!!!) seconds off last year’s time, posting a 7.12.08 time (which is just 4 seconds over the Junior Olympic time!) in the 500 free

2) Twelve year olds Brendan Miller-Radest (6.27.38) and Evan O’Hara (6.27.75) posted Silver times in the 500 free

3) 10 year old (but aging up in February) Lindsay Stearns posted a Silver cut time as an 11-12 year old in the 400 IM (6.01.83).

4) 15 year olds Amand Scherb (5.32.56) and Katie Ragan (5.35.95) both posted Silver cut times in the 400 IM

5) 12 year old Matt Lemons (5.58.61) posted a silver time in the 400 IM.

Results are posted on the Elite website. Swimmers who participated were: Meg Brosnan, Brannon Cho, Laura Culiuc, Sam Duren, Kristen Fedor, Spencer Fisch, Hannah Gleason, Katie Gorman, Brent Jones, Zackie Katz, Gregory Keiser, Moran Kiley, Emmie Lai, Ricky LaSalvia, Matt Lemons, Jessie Lowe, Daniela Manzi, Marisa Manzi, Brendan Miller-Radest, Madison Munoz, Dan Muro, Kendall Murray, Evan O’Hara, Chris Plunkett, Katie Ragan, Abigail Rollenhagen, Amanda Scherb, Jonathan Scott, Andrea Shepard, Bethany Stachenfeld, Lindsay Stearns, Syndey Todd, Michael Wang & Sarah Weinbrom.

DISTANCE DERBY THIS COMING NEXT WEEKEND;

HOSTING MEET TAKES FULL TEAM EFFORT;

Each year, Elite runs two (Distance Derby and the 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championships) New Jersey Sanctioned Swim Meets. Elite hosts these two meets for two reasons: 1) to provide opportunities for our swimmers to compete and 2) as a team fundraiser to help keep the costs of running the team down. Meet & Event Information is posted on the website under Meet Schedule.

Distance Derby will be held on Saturday, November 18 & Sunday, November 19. Swimmers in the Wave Teals, Wave Blacks, Wave Golds, Senior Preps and Seniors will compete in this meet.

Marlin Teal: food donations need to be dropped off at Newark Academy by Tuesday, November 14. Margie Lowe is the Marlin Teal’s Representative.

Marlin Black: water donations need to be dropped off at Newark Academy by Monday, November 13. Gail Ferrell is the Marlin Black’s Representative.

Wave Teal: money donation of $10 (cash or check to Elite Swim Club) must be handed in by Monday, November 13. Allison Nash is the Wavebuster Teal’s Representative.

Wave Black: money donation of $10 (cash or check to Elite Swim Club) must be handed in by Tuesday, November 14. Geri Campolattaro is the Wavebuster Black’s Representative.

Wave Gold: money donation of $10 (cash or check to Elite Swim Club) must be handed in by Monday, November 13. Keiko Takashashi is the Wavebuster Gold’s Representative.

Senior Prep: money donation of $10 (cash or check to Elite Swim Club) must be handed in by Monday, November 13. Mary D’Altrui is the Senior Prep’s Representative.

Senior: money donation of $10 (cash or check to Elite Swim Club) must be handed in by Monday, November 13. Jack Peay is the Senior’s Representative.

All families of swimmers are required to help. If you have not responded to the Age Group Coordinator email, please contact the appropriate following individual:

12 & U: Ginger Stearns, 13 & 14: Mary Ann Keiser & 15 & Older: Debbie Scherb.

Everyone needs to contribute. If a swimmer and/or a parent can not attend the meet, a donation of three boxes of Power/Pria Bars or $50 must be arranged with Age Group Coordinator on or before Tuesday, November 14.

Any addition questions should be directed to your Age Group Coordinator.

TWENTY ELITE SWIMMERS HEADED TO PITTSBURGH FOR CHRISTMAS INVITATIONAL; PARENTS: THERE IS ROOM ON THE TEAM BUS FOR YOU!:

Elite will field a team of 20 swimmers (an increase over the 15 swimmers from last year) for the 45^th annual Christmas Invitational Meet to be held Friday, December 15 thru Sunday, December 17 at the University of Pittsburgh.

Swimmers who have qualified are: Danielle Basile, Crissy Condus, Kat Cupka, Chris Dart, Carolyn DeMeo, Priya Duvvuri, Venkatesh Duvvuri, Breana Fitzpatrick, Michelle Franks, Julianne Furdyna, Duncan Hall, Jerel Ho, David Lemons, Ricky Martin, Danielle Martinez, Austin Meszaros, Ali Morreale, Maggie Nelson, Brittany Ross & Michael Strand.

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 the weekend before at Rutgers.

For the 1^st time, Elite has hired a full 50 passenger bus to transport the team to Pittsburgh. Parents who are considering traveling to Pittsburgh are welcome to travel on the bus; in addition, Elite is still holding a few extra rooms at the hotel. Parents whom would like to travel on the bus and/or stay at the same hotel as the team need to get in touch with Bill immediately.

IS THIS COOL OR WHAT???

COMBINATION OF WATCHING A FILM NIGHT, BEING IN THE POOL SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, DEC 1^ST:

Ever dreamed of combining two of your favorite pastimes: swimming and watching a video? Well, the Elite Swim Club’s Parent Organization (ESCPO) will make it happen on Friday night, December 1^st at Morristown-Beard.

ESCPO is hard at work planning a night where every Elite swimmer will be invited to bring a floatation device to use in the MBS pool while watching a movie projected onto the Pool Wall. Dinner will also be served.

Stay tuned for more details and Save the Date!!!

TOP 10 ALL TIME TIMES UPDATED:

The Elite database easily allows for the ranking of the top 10 All-Time Best Times to be presented to the world. On the website, under Top Times, is the updated list (for yard performances only), of the best of Elite thru the years. Check it out!

SOME HELPFUL DO’S AND DON’TS TO HELP YOU SUCCEED:

Here are some Do’s and Don’ts that will be helpful this weekend and the rest of the season:

DO stay well hydrated (drink good fluids) and stay well rested (get sleep).

DO eat a variety of colorful healthy foods. 

DO get to practice on time (early).

DO wear hooded sweat shirts and wear sweats to drylands.

DO carry a symmetrical double strap backpack to school- use both shoulder straps to evenly distribute weight.  Side slung book bags creats uneven stress on the body-which has to compensate for the uneven weight and often times leads to shoulder, hip, knee injuries.

DO congratulate and cheer your teammates for a job well done OR a challenge met-att practice or at a meet. Be a leader of enthusiasm!!!

DO repeat to yourself Elite training philosophy:  "Today is my most important practice because..." 

DON'T forget you are not just any swimmer; you are an ELITE swimmer AND an Elite Person. Correct behavior is as important (if not more important) than fast times.

DON’Tt eat junk food (and yes, that includes all candy in the machine at MBS).

HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING TO AFFECT PRACTICE TIMES IN DEC, JAN & FEB:

High School Swimming at both Newark Academy and Morristown-Beard will affect Elite’s practice schedule starting November 15.

Wave Blacks are reminded that practice on Saturday’s, following November 15, with be held from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm at Morristown-Beard School.

High School swim meets at both Newark Academy and Morristown-Beard School will occasionally push back practice start times from 5:15 pm to 5:30 pm. Please review 3 week practice schedule for daily details.

ESCPO NEWS...

Update from ESCPO:

Congrats to all our swimmers for a great weekend of competition.

Thanks to all for the great participation in the Yankee Candle sale - our first ever fund raiser was a great sucess!!  We raised over $2,000 for the organization.  Look for us to put this money to good use to support our swimmers.

For those families who have not registered for ESCPO, please do so asap - forms can be found under Parent Org on the website.  For your convenience, if your registration is not received by Sunday, November 12th, your dues will be added to your next swim team statement.

Elite Wear and Accessories - Forms for ESC merchandise orders, created by Jodiand Paul Shepard, are also available on the website under Parents Org. This merchandise is available for a limited time. ABSOLUTE last date to order is THIS WEDNESDAY, November 8^th.

LOST AND FOUND:

There is a Lost and Found at Newark Academy which is already overflowing with t-shirts, sweatshirts, goggles, fins, etc. If you have lost something, check out the lost and found. AND put your name on everything you own so it can get back to you!!!