ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               12-12-05

 

FAST SWIMMING HIGHLIGHTS BUSY SUNDAY:

 

            Competing in two different meets, Elite swimmers continued their relentless assault this past Sunday on their individual best time records.

 

            Invited to a 1st time ever meet, Elite 8 & Unders competed in their 1st championship style meet this year at the Candy Cane Classic hosted by and at the Somerset Hills YMCA in Basking Ridge. Other teams in attendance were Lakeland Hills Y, Somerset Valley Y, Caldwell Cyclones and Somerset Hills Y.

 

            The star of the meet for Elite was 8 year old Zackie Katz, who placed 1st in all three of his individual events (8year olds: 25 back-20.98, 25 breast-21.68 & 25 free-15.94) in addition to helping his teammates win two relays (the 8 & Under 100 yard medley and free relays). 

 

            Also winning events were Chris Balbo who splashed to a 1st place finish in the 7 year old 25 fly (27.15) and Gabrielle Pick stroked to a 1st place finish in the 8 year old 25 breast (26.13).

 

            Placing 2nd were Kaitlin Stearns in both the 7 year old 25 fly (21.88) and 25 back (22.33) while Michelle Pick placed 2nd in the 8 year old 25 fly (19.72).

 

            Coming in 3rd were Aaron Levin in both the 8 year old 25 Fly (21.86) and 25 breast (24.73), Christina Pick in the 7 year old 25 fly (22.62) & Michelle Pick in the 8 year old 50 Free (40.72).

 

             Swimmers who participated were (# in parathesis is # of best times): Alex Aiello (3), Chris Balbo (3), Katie Brosnan (3), Maggie Burd (3), Will DeMartin (2), Amy Duren (3), Avinash Duvvuri (2), Noah Eagle (3), Andrea Ferrell (3), Emily Goad (3), Alexandra Gordon (2), Chris Inglese (3), Zackie Katz (3), Aaron Levin (2), Julia Muro (2), Gregory Niccolai (2), Christina Pick (2), Gabrielle Pick (2), Michelle Pick (3), Kaitlin Stearns (3), Amber Teetsel (1), Julia Watt (2) & Paige Willian (2).

 

Complete results are posted on the website! In addition, the families of these parents are to be commended as in lieu of admission and program costs, Somerset Hills Y requested donations and sold meet t-shirts for the benefit of the Valerie Center of the Morristown Memorial and Summit Overlook Hospitals, which provides toys for children with cancer and blood disorders. At early count, parents of all swimmers helped contribute over $1,000 and numerous gifts were donated!!!!

 

Meanwhile back at Morristown-Beard, Elite hosted the Caldwell Cyclones in a dual meet where Elite swimmers swam the IM, breast and fly events.

 

Courtney Brosnan, Krishna Duvvuri, Venkatesh Duvvuri, Greg Keiser all dominated their age groups by being winners in all 3 events they participated in while Victoria D’Altrui and Ali Morreale won 2 of the 3 events they swam in. Also winning an event was Shelby Dixon.

   

            In the girls 9-10 age group, Courtney Bronsan won the 100 IM (1.32.92), the 100 breast (1.55.22) and the 50 fly (41.95). In the boys 9-10 age group, Krishna Duvvuri won the 100 IM (1.31.66), the 100 breast (1.45.44) and the 50 fly (42.38). Older brother Venkatesh Duvvuri swept the 13 & Older events by winning the 200 IM (2.43.72), 200 breast (3.14.73) and the 100 fly (1.17.54). Greg Keiser won all three 11-12 boys, the 200 IM (3.11.67), the 100 breast (1.36.02) and the 100 fly (1.25.45).

 

            In the girls 13 & Older age group, Victoria D’Altrui won the 200 IM (2.57.29) and the 200 Breast (3.20.89) while in the girls 11-12 age group, Ali Morreale cruised to a 1st place finish in both the 200 IM (3.00.68) and the 100 breast (1.32.87). Shelby Dixon flew to a 1st place finish in the girls 13 & Older 100 butterfly (1.26.18).

 

Swimmers who participated were (# in parathesis is # of best times): Matt Aiello (1), Lindsay Anderson (1), Arlynn Baer (3), Sam Barback (2), Ricky Baum (3), Eric Binder (2), Courtney Brosnan (3), Meg Brosnan (3), Ryan Buckham (2), Taylor Campolattaro (3), Monica Carty (2), Emma Cherry (3), Isabel Cherry (2), Josh Choi (3), Brittany Clark (1), Marshall Cohen (2), Daniel Collins (2), Victoria D’Altrui (1), Peter Davey (3), Tad Deatly (3), Parker Dixon (2), Shelby Dixon (3), TJ Dougherty (2), Sam Duren (2), Krishna Duvvuri (3), Venkatesh Duvvuri (3), Helena Elston (2), Brandon Faris (2), Madeleine Faust (3), Spencer Fisch (3), Kristi Froisland (1), Hannah Gleason (1), Katie Golway (2), Dominique Gordon (1), Katie Gorman (2), Lydia Gracey (3), Raleigh Heap (3), Katie Inglese, Brent Jones (3), Gregory Keiser (2), Victoria Keiser (2), Caroline Kelly (1), Brandon King (3), Regan Kology (2), Emmie Lai (3), Ricky LaSalvia (2), Jessie Lowe (3), Daniela Manzi (1), Marisa Manzi (2), Sarah McGrath (3), Brendan Miller-Radest (3), Ali Morreale (3), Isabella Morreale (2), Cesar Munoz (3), Madison Munoz (2), Maggie Nelson (3), Rebecca Niccolai (1), Dara O’Gorman (3), Chris Plunkett (3), Katie Ragan (1), Collin Reilly (3), Abigail Rollenhagen (3), Taylor Savarese (3), Amanda Scherb (1), Claire Serruto (3), Andrea Shepard (2), Alex Smith Wang (2), Bethany Stachenfeld (2), Lindsay Stearns (2), James Sullivan (3), Lexi Tedesco (2), Grace Thompson (3), Spencer Turkington, Andrea Tyminsky (2), Caroline Watt (3), Sarah Weinbrom (3), Nicole Weissman (3), Natalie Wetmore (2) & Alex Wolfson (2).

 

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.

 

FOURTEEN SWIMMERS TO REPRESENT ELITE AT HOLIDAY CLASSIC:  

 

            Elite will field a team of fourteen 12 & Under swimmers for the 19th annual Holiday Classic Meet to be held Friday, December 16 thru Sunday, December 18 at the Rutgers University.

 

            With very high level qualifying times, Holiday Classic is one of the fastest meets of the season in the entire Northeast. Elite only sends its 12 & Unders to this meet (as the 13 & Olders head to Pittsburgh).

 

            Swimmers who have qualified and will be attending are: Courtney Brosnan, Ryan Buckham, Peter Davey, Carolyn DeMeo, Krishna Duvvuri, Priya Duvvuri, Greg Keiser, Regan Kology, Emmie Lai, Michael Li, Ali Morreale, Chris Plunkett, Nicki Ross & Lindsay Stearns.

 

            As a testament to Elite’s continued development, only 8 Elite swimmers qualified last year.

 

THINKING SUMMER? THINK SUMMER SWIM CAMPS!:

 

            Although the hot sun and humid weather seems millions of years away, summer is only 6 months away and top notch swim camps are already taking registrations for the summer of 2006.

 

When planning the upcoming summer, please consider sending your Elite swimmer to one of the numerous swim camps.

 

Each summer, numerous Elite swimmers spend a rewarding week (or two) at a summer swim camp. The benefits of such a camp are: 1) individual attention by reknown swim coaches 2) an increased knowledge of the sport of swimming and 3) personal growth that occurs as a result of “being on one’s own.”

 

The formula that seems to work best is finding an Elite friend to spend the week with at the swim camp.

 

If you are considering sending your swimmer to a swim camp, now is the time to do the research and make decisions (many of these camps are sold out by mid-Spring). On the website, under Swim Camps, there is a list of swim camps. Many of these swim camps close out in late February and early March!!!

 

Thinking about summer? Think Swim Camps!!

 

SICK? COULD BE YOUR LACK OF “AT HOME” SWIMMING DETAILS!!!

 

Are you sick? Got the flu, strep or a bad head cold?  Your sickness is probably caused by your own lack of swimming details!!!

 

Since we are heading towards our championship season (late February/March), this is the most crucial segment of your training season. Each swimmer needs to practice their “at home” swimming details: drinking lots of fluids, eating properly and often, getting enough sleep and dressing properly for winter.

 

There are literally dozens of swimmers that ignore these vital “at home” swimming details, and most of these swimmers end up missing significant training and/or actually missing their meets because they do not live their “at home” swimming details. These swimmers literally shorten their training seasons due to their sickness!!!

 

One new swimmer phenonem that is just plain crazy is the “sandal/no sock look” in zero degree weather. Swimmers who dress like this are literally begging to get sick. One Elite swimmer actually got frostbite last year due to not dressing properly on the way home from swimming on a particularly cold night. Ever tried swimming with frostbite?

 

Be a winner: do your swimming details at home and at school, in addition to at the pool!!!

         

WEATHER AFFECTING PRACTICE? CHECK WEBSITE & EMAIL:

 

            As yesterday’s snowstorm displayed, weather will have an affect on practice schedules and meet starting times. When in doubt, check the Elite website and your email for information regarding time changes due to weather.

 

Be advised that both Newark Academy and Morristown Beard tend to close down at the forecast of bad weather. In addition, safety is extremely important. Thus, weather is likely to interrupt practice and even if it does not, parents should make decisions based upon their comfort level regarding travel to and from practice.

 

ELITE PURCHASES NEW TOUCHPADS:

 

            Elite has purchased 6 new Colorado Timing touchpads. The pads were used with great success during yesterday’s intraclub meet.

 

            At Distance Derby, Elite had trouble with its existing touch pads (purchased last year at a steep discount due to their age-13 years old). Elite had hoped to get longer use out of the old touchpads.

 

            Although not in the budget, Elite determined that touch pads were crucial for the Elite to continue to provide a 1st rate product to its members. Thus, the new touchpads were purchased without hesitation. 

 

HOLIDAY PRACTICE SCHEDULE POSTED:

 

            Elite has posted the 2005-06 Holiday Practice Schedule on the website. Look under Practice Schedule. Please note that practices will be held during the day.

 

INTERACTIVE USA SWIMMING WEBSITE WANTS YOU!!

 

            The USA Swimming website wants YOU!

 

            Interactive by design, the website (usaswimming.org) wants you to create your own web account on the website. The process is easy and swimmers can learn how they rank among their peers in swimming (including a IM Extreme Challenge).

 

            To create an account: 1) go to the homepage and click on create a web account 2) enter the requested information (and remember to check box that you are a registered swimmer-all Elite Swimmers are USA Swimming Members) and click on Create Account 3) link your new account to your membership by clicking Search for Membership 4) Click on This is Me when you find the membership you want 5) You have an account.

 

            Information will be automatically sent to your inbox such as meet results, your personal results (only USA Sanctioned Meet times will appear-non dual meet/intraclub meets) and your IM Extreme score (a ranking system based upon your performance in a combination of 5 or 6 events-depending on your age).

 

SUMMER LONG COURSE MEET SCHEDULE REVISED:

 

            Adjusting to the increased participation in summer “long course” competition, New Jersey Swimming has announced a restructure of the schedule of its championship meets.

 

            To meet the additional interest in summer competition (last summers meets were terribly overcrowded), NJ Swimming will hold a Bronze Level Meet this summer in addition to “moving back” the Junior Olympic competiton.

 

            Junior Olympics will be held Friday, August 4 thru Sunday, August 6, 2006 at Rutgers University. Silvers will be held Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23 at Rutgers (same weekend as in the past). Bronze will be held on Saturday, July 29 and Sunday, July 30 in Bayonne (at an outside venue!).

 

SWIM MEETS ON THE HORIZON:

 

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

 

            1)  Friday, December 16 thru Sunday, December 18: Christmas Meet in Pittsburgh. Only qualifying Seniors and Senior Preps. Meet information is posted.

 

            2) Friday, December 16 thru Sunday, December 18: Holiday Classic at Rutgers. Only qualifying 12 & Unders. Meet & Event Information is posted. 

 

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

 

            4) Friday, January 14 thru Sunday, January 16: Burgdorff Invitational at Rutgers. Only qualifying swimmers will attend. Meet information is posted

 

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.

 

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. Elite is now taking reservations for the clinic-and smart swimmers have already signed up. There is a special Tara Kirk webpage on Elite’s website: check out her accomplishments!!

 

            Tara will be at Morristown-Beard from 2 pm to 6 pm. Tara will 1) discuss her swimming experiences (including the 2004 Athens Olympics),  2) stretch and warm-up swimmers 3) give stroke instruction and 4) get into the water and swim with Elite swimmers!!!

 

            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.”

 

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:

 

            New: The Fundraiser Committee has begun selling “Swim Strong” bracelets in Elite’s Teal and Black colors.            Contact Brandy Deatly (Brando32@comcast.net) if you would like to purchase one.

 

PUBLICITY:

 

            Plenty of photographs were taken at the two meets yesterday with an eye towards posting some of them on the website. If you have not done so already, please sign the Publicity Waiver that authorizes Elite to use pictures of these swimmers and get it to Bill. The Publicity Waiver is now posted on the website under “Forms.” Please place the signed waiver in Bill’s Mailbox at Newark Academy.