ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               11-14-05

 

PARENTS HELP SWIMMERS SUCCEED AT DISTANCE DERBY:

HEAT WINNING DERBYS A BIG HIT:

 

            Volunteering Elite parents contributed food, equipment and their time to make the 3rd annual Distance Derby an organizational and swimming success.

 

            With the focus on the most grueling events swimming has to offer, Distance Derby challenges swimmers to compete in the toughest events back to back. Held in a meter pool (MBS’s pool is 10% longer than a yard pool) further adds to the challenge.

 

Elite swimmers, competing against 5 other teams (Caldwell Cyclones, Morris County Swim Club, Sea Dragons Swim Club, The Atlantic Club, Wyckoff Family Y) handled the challenge with purposefulness and straightforwardness. This weekend, Elite swimmers accomplished:

 

            1) 48 best times that were MORE THAN 10 SECONDS FASTER previous best times. Nearly half (21) of those times were best times by more than 20 seconds!!!

    

            2) 45 different Elite swimmers won a medal (placing in the top 6), many of them multiple medal winners

 

            Playing on the double meaning of the word “derby,” Elite added an extra incentive by awarding a “derby” hat to each heat winner. Swimmers and parents of every team proudly displayed their winning derbies all weekend.

 

            The Elite Seniors were treated to an extra challenge, as they not only practiced Saturday morning prior to racing in the afternoon, but they also hosted the Seniors swimmers from Sea Dragons during their workout. Swimmers from both teams ratcheted up their intensity during the pre-meet workout. Interestingly, the end result was that swimmers from both teams came away with a new found respect for each other in addition to the formation of a number of new friendships.

 

            Elite Swimmers who participated in Distance Derby were: Lindsay Anderson (1), Danni Basile (4), Ricky Baum (1), Courtney Brosnan (3), Meg Brosnan (2), Ryan Buckham (1), Taylor Campolattaro (1), Monica Carty (2), Emma Cherry (1), Brannon Cho (2), Josh Choi (2), Brittany Clark (2), Marshall Cohen (3), Crissy Condus (5), Victoria D’Altrui (4), Chris Dart (5), Peter Davey (2), Corey Deatly (1), Tad Deatly (4), Christian DeFluri (3), Carolyn DeMeo (3), TJ Dougherty (1), Sam Duren (2), Priya Duvvuri (4), Venkatesh Duvvuri (5), Caroline Ellis (2), Mickey Ennis (3), Cassandra Farnow (5), Amna Farooqi (2), Kristen Fedor (3), Lauren Fedor (2), Spencer Fisch (3), Breana Fitzpatrick (3), Willy Friedlander, Julianne Furdyna (3), Hannah Gleason (2), Katie Gorman (2), Duncan Hall (4), Jerel Ho (2), Ben Inglese (2), Katie Inglese (3), Brent Jones (3), Kim Jones (4), Tara Juliano (1), Gregory Keiser (3), Kirsten Kellstrom (3), Katie Kilcullen (1), Brandon King (3), Dave Knaus (1), Regan Kology (3), Emmie Lai (3), Ricky LaSalvia (2), Michael Li (2), Jessie Lowe (2), Robert Maloney (4), Daniela Manzi (3), Marisa Manzi (2), Danielle Martinez (3), Colleen Mason (4), Megan Mataga (3), Annie McCullough (1), Katie McCullough (1), Shayla McDonnell (3), Sarah McGrath (3), Austin Meszaros (5), Brendan Miller-Radest (3), Ali Morreale (3), Isabella Morreale (2), Jaquelyn Mullens (2), Madison Munoz (3), Kendall Murray (3), Rebecca Niccolai (2), Sarah Peay (3), Will Peters (3), Chris Plunkett (2), Matt Poloniak (3), Katie Ragan (2), Collin Reilly (2), Brittany Ross (5), Nicki Ross (1), Taylor Savarese (2), Amanda Scherb (4), Jonathan Scott (1), Lindsay Scott (3), Andrea Shepard (3), Veronica Smith (3), Alexandra Smith Wang (4), Bethany Stachenfeld (3), Lindsay Stearns (1), Erica Takahashi (2), Lexi Tedesco (3), Grace Thompson (2), Nick Trojanowski (5), Andrea Tyminski (2), Michael Wang (2), Sarah Weinbrom (2), Nicole Weissman (1), Kayla Wolonsky (4) & Maggie Woodruff (1).

 

            In addion to the Elite individual results, the complete meet results are posted on the website under Distance Derby.

 

            Bill, Brandy and the Elite coaches would like to thank all those Elite parents who contributed to their own swimmer’s success of the weekend! 

 

SWIM MEETS ON THE HORIZON:

 

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

 

            1) Sunday, November 20: Dual Meet verses Caldwell at Caldwell: All Marlins, All Wave Teals, All Wave Blacks  (Wave Golds will not be attending). 10 & Unders: 12:00 pm (noon) warm-up and 11 & Older: 2:30 pm warm-up. Meet information to be posted later today or Tuesday.

 

            2) Sunday, December 4: IntraClub Meet at Morristown-Beard: 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

 

            3) 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

 

            4) 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

 

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

 

            6) Friday, December 16 thru Sunday, December 18: Holiday Classic at Rutgers. Only qualifying 12 & Unders. Meet & Event Information now posted on the website under Meet Schedule

 

            7) Saturday, January 7th and Sunday, January 8th: Winterfest at Rutgers. Only qualifying swimmers will attend. Meet information to be posted shortly

 

HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS TO START PRACTICE; PLEASE REVIEW PRACTICE SCHEDULE: 

 

            The Newark Academy, Millburn High School (at Newark Academy) and Morristown-Beard High School Swim Teams will begin their seasons starting tomorrow (Tuesday, November 15). How does this affects Elite?

 

            1) on normal practice days, Newark Academy will practice until 5:15 pm (our start time). Elite swimmers will be required to stay out of the pool until NA has concluded their practice and has left the pool deck

 

            2) on normal practice days, Millburn will begin practice after Elite has concluded practice at NA at 8:30 pm. On these days, Elite swimmers will need to exit the pool area quickly

 

            3) on normal practice days, Morristown-Beard’s practice will not affect Elite

 

            4) on those days when one or more of these teams host meets, Elite’s practice schedule will be affected (practice may start later than 5:15 pm or conclude earlier than 8:30). When possible, these changes will be highlighted on the Elite two week scheduled posted on the website 

 

            Elite swimmers need to remember that we are guests of both Newark Academy and Morristown-Beard School, and we need to act accordingly.

 

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).

 

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:

 

            Parents and swimmers witnessed the 1st effort of the Fundraiser Committee’s efforts this past weekend as the committee sold “Swim Strong” bracelets in Elite’s Teal and Black colors.   

           

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.