ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               2-21-11

 

    “Cultivating Excellence in Academics, Character and Swimming”

 

13 TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LAST “NON-CHAMP” CHANCE:

M. BALBO, BIGHAM, BUCKMAN, CRITCHLEY (3), FU (2), E. GORHAM (2), MALINOWSKI, NG, C. PICK (2), B. ROSSI, SLEPIAN, SUN & C. XU (2)

POST 19 JUNIOR OLYMPIC TIMES:

 

            7 New Jersey teams showed up yesterday in Bayonne to compete in one last “non-championship” competition, giving their swimmers another opportunity to score Junior Olympic times prior to the Silver Bronze Championships (later this month and in March. Swimmers can qualify for JO’s at Silver/Bronze Meets). 13 Elite swimmers took advantage of their opportunity, adding 19 Junior Olympic times to the team totals of 45 JO swimmers in 242 events.

 

            12 year old Matt Critchley, 10 year old Emily Fu, 12 year old Emily Gorham, 12 year old Christina Pick and 10 year old Claire Xu each posted multiple JO qualifying times to add to their already impressive totals.

 

            Critchley won all three of his events in posting his 10th, 11th and 12th Junior Olympic qualifying times: 50 back (30.93), 100 free (1.00.03) and the 200 IM (2.30.80).

 

            Fu won the 200 IM (2.55.03) and placed 2nd in the 100 IM (1.20.38) in JO style, adding to her totals #5 & #6. Emily also won the 100 back (1.20.23).

 

            Gorham added JO events #5 & #6 with her 1st place finishes in both the 50 back (30.96) and the 100 fly (1.09.53). Emily placed 2nd in her 3rd event, the 100 IM (1.10.16), just .17 off the JO cut.

 

            Pick won the 50 fly (30.87) with her 13th JO cut and placed 2nd with her 14th JO cut in the 50 back (31.52). Christina added a third place finish in her 50 free (27.96).

 

            Xu added JO cuts #10 & #11 by winning both the 50 fly (35.29) and the 100 fly (1.23.22-4 second drop!).

 

            In winning the 200 back (2.31.21-3.4 second drop!), 12 year old Emily Buckman posted her 1st JO qualifying time this year. Emily also won the 100 back (1.13.44).

 

            9 year old Sydney Slepian posted her 6th Junior Olympic time this year with her 2.39.14, 3 second drop in the 200 free. Sydney also placed 2nd in the 100 fly (1.31.49).

 

            10 year old Brittany Sun brought home her 7th JO cut, this one in the 100 IM (1.19.69). Brittany also won both the 50 free (31.58) and the 50 breast (43.12), both just short of JO cuts.

 

            12 year old Abbie Bigham scored #4 JO cut with her 2.31.68 time (5.6 sec drop!) in the 200 back, placing 2nd. Abbie also placed 2nd in the 200 IM (2.32.87).

 

            11 year old Brandon Rossi hit the breaststroke tri-fecta in winning the 200 breast in a 2.58.82 time. This swim gives Brandon JO swims in all 3 breast events.  Brandon also placed 2nd in the 50 free (28.74) and 3rd in the 100 free (1.06.70).

 

            10 year old Megan Balbo came home with her 2nd JO cut this year in placing 5th in the 200 free (2.37.99). This was a 5.1 second drop!

 

            12 year old Isabelle Malinowski muscled to a JO cut in the 200 Fly with her 2.38.47 time and her 1st place finish. Isabelle followed up with a 2nd place finish in the 100 fly (1.12.28), within range of the JO cut.

 

            11 year old Evan Ng continued his impressive development with his 2nd place, JO cut swim in the 50 fly (31.76). Evan was 3rd in the 100 fly (1.16.66-2 second drop).

 

            In addition, 26 Elite swimmers won, placed 2nd or came in 3rd with their swims:

 

1)      14 year old Gabrielle Pick won all 3 of her events: the 50 free, the 100 free & the 200 breast!

2)      16 year old Rachel Emodi won both the 100 free and the 200 free.

3)      13 year old Avinash Duvvuri won both the 50 free and the 200 back

4)      15 year old Corey Duren won the 200 free, placed 2nd in the 100 free and 3rd in the 50 free

5)      10 year old Grace Xu won the 200 breast, was 2nd in the 50 fly and 3rd in the 50 back

6)      15 year old Darragh O’Gorman won the 400 IM, placed 2nd in the 200 back and 3rd in the 100 back

7)      13 year old Isabel LaRaia won the 200 IM (2.26.22) and placed 3rd in both the 100 free and the 200 breast 

8)      14 year old Eugene Ng won the 200 breast and placed 3rd in the 100 breast

9)      13 year old Caroline Nash won the 100 fly

10)   15 year old Isabellea Morreale won the 100 breast

11)   14 year old Katie McGrath placed 2nd in both the 200 IM and the 100 free and was 3rd in the 100 back

12)   15 year old Michael Nitting was 2nd in both the 200 free and the 100 back and placed 3rd in the 200 back

13)   13 year old Karl Melchior came in 2nd in the 200 back and placed 3rd in the 100 back

14)   16 year old John Chiang placed 2nd in the 200 breast (2.44.63)

15)     9 year old Erica Iizuka came in 2nd in the 200 IM (2.39.17)

16)   15 year old Clark LaRaia was 2nd in the 100 fly (1.02.76)

17)   11 year old Brandon Li placed 2nd in the 100 breast (1.25.55)

18)   10 year old Sandeepan Mukherjee came in 2nd in the 200 free (2.40.81)

19)   11 year old Katy Shepard was 2nd in the 200 free (2.19.79)

20)     9 year old Will Stearns placed 2nd in the 100 back

21)   12 year old Amy Duren placed 3rd in all three of her events: 50 fly, 100 free & 200 IM

22)   13 year old Elizabeth D’Altrui was 3rd in the 400 IM (5.35.34-3.5 second drop)

23)   17 year old Lindsay Ellerthorpe was 3rd in the 200 back

24)   13 year old Andrea Ferrell placed 3rd in the 400 IM

25)   11 year old Audrey Kim came in 3rd in the 100 back

26)   14 year old Ryan Miller was 3rd in the 200 IM                

 

            Full results are posted on the team website.

 

            Swimmers who participated (# in parenthesis is number of best Elite SCY best times): Megan Balbo (1), Lindsay Behar, Abigail Bigham (3), Emily Buckman (1), John Chiang, Morgan Conley, James Coyne (2), Matthew Critchley (3), Elizabeth D’Altrui (2), Amy Duren (1), Corey Duren (1), Avinash Duvvuri, Lindsay Ellerthorpe, Rachel Emodi, Summer Felsen (1), Andrea Ferrell, Katherine Friday, Emily Fu (2), Emily Gorham (2), Andrew Huang (1), Alicia Iizuka, Erica Iizuka (2),  Karen Iizuka (1), Monica Iizuka, Audrey Kim, Jared Kovacs, Clark LaRaia (1), Isabel LaRaia (1), Brandon Li (2), Sarah Lowe, Michael Macchia (2), Isabelle Malinowski (2), Katie McGrath (1), Karl Melchior (2), Ryan Miller (3), Isabella Morreale, Sandeepan Mukherjee (2), Fred Nagle (1), Caroline Nash (1), Eugene Ng (1), Evan Ng (2), Michael Nitting, Darragh O’Gorman (2), Nick Pachiolo (2), Christina Pick (2), Gabrielle Pick (2), Joe Pick (1), Brandon Rossi (2), Katie Shepard (2), Sydney Slepian (1), Will Stearns (1), Brittany Sun (3), Vivian Xu (1), Claire Xu (2) & Grace Xu (1).

 

PREPARATION IN FULL GEAR FOR 9-10 SILVER/BRONZE CHAMPS; MEET IS THIS COMING WEEKEND;

13-19 SILVERS/BRONZE COORIDINATION EMAIL LAST THIS WEEK;

Meet Coordination for the 9-10 Silver Bronze Championships is in full gear for this championship meet which Elite will host this coming weekend February 26th & 27th at Newark Academy.  All parents of swimmers 10 years of age and younger (yes, including 8 year olds, 7 year olds and 6 year olds) are expected to work this meet as part of their parental obligation to Elite. In addition, all parents of all 9 & 10’s (including those who can not compete because they have all the JO cuts) are expected to work this meet.

            The volunteer job assignments for the 9/10 Silver Bronze Meet were sent out last Friday Feb 18th.  All 10 & under parents should email Carolyn Balbo at cbalbo@comcast.net to confirm their volunteer job assignments.  Thank you to everyone for their help!

 

            The 13 & Over volunteer job assignments will be sent out closer to the meet date.

 

            Please note that every parent of 10 & Under swimmer, even a parent of a swimmer who has qualified for all JO events, is required to work to fulfill their parental obligation to Elite.  

            If a parent/family forsees a problem fulfilling their parental obligation, they need to contact Bill AND 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 really no reason a parental obligation can not be fulfilled by an Elite club member. 

            Failure to fulfill a parental obligation will jeopardize a swimmer’s roster spot on Elite. As part of having a swimmer on Elite, parent have agreed to step up and help when it is Elite’s turn to provide splash opportunities for the greater swimming community. 

WITH SEASON END IN SIGHT, TIME TO PLAN TO PARTY!!!

AWARDS DINNER RESERVATION FORM NOW POSTED UNDER AWARDS DINNER:

 

            Preparations are underway for the biggest party of the season: Elite’s 16th annual Winter Swim Team Banquet!!! This year’s party will be held Sunday, April 10th from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

 

          This year, Elite will again be at the Hanover Marriott, located at 1401 Route 10 East, Whippany, New Jersey. This facility can accommodate up to 700 people!!! The last 9 Elite banquets have had an excess of 300 people each!!! The reservation form is now posted on the website: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Awards%20Dinner/homepage.html

 

To reserve your dinner reservations, please print out a reservation form from the website (under Awards Dinner), fill it out and mail the form with the appropriate check amount to Bill Deatly, 32 Prospect Street, Summit, New Jersey 07901. Cost per person is $55. All 12 & Under Swimmers must have at least 1 adult accompanying them.

 

Parents, Bill will do his best to honor your seating arrangement requests. Swimmers will be seated by Bill by training group.

Reservation forms must be in by Wednesday, March 30, 2011.       

REMINDER: SCHOLAR/ATHLETE AWARDS WILL BE HIGHLIGHT OF AWARDS BANQUET:

          With the conclusion of the 2nd marking periods, swimmers are reminded that the ultimate award an Elite swimmer can earn at the season ending Awards Banquet (Sunday, April 10, 2011) will once again be the Elite Scholar-Athlete Awards. Great grades, in addition to great swim times, are required for a swimmer to earn one of these awards.

 

            These awards will be broken down into three levels:

 

1)                          All-American Scholar Athlete Award: Swimmer must have a 3.5 grade average and at least 1 Scholastic All-American Qualifying time (Jr. National bonus cut). This award is actually a USA Swimming Award and will be presented by USA Swimming. Elite will also provide a certificate to those swimmers who have qualified for this award

 

2)                          The Elite Scholar-Athlete Gold Award: A swimmer must have all A’s and no more than 1 B (or the equivalent of all A’s and 1 B) plus at least 1 individual Junior Olympic Qualify Time

 

3)                          The Elite Scholar-Athlete Teal Award: Swimmer must have all A’s and B’s (of the equivalent) plus at least 1 individual Silver Qualifying Time

 

In addition to each swimmer receiving an impressive certificate from Elite acknowledging this achievement, from this season forward Elite will post the names of its scholar athletes on its website-forever acknowledging its most special scholar-athletes. 

 

Parents of grammar school students should remember that Bill will review the grading legend (assuming A’s and B’s are not given) to ascertain if the swimmer has fulfilled the academic requirements to receive the award.

 

Bill is now accepting the scholastic information. If your swimmer made a JO or Silver qualifying time last summer or this winter and then aged up, an applicant must fill out the application form on the team website that will point Bill to the swim in question. All scholastic information needs to be to Bill by Tuesday, March 22 (if a marking period is about to end-please contact Bill).

 

END OF SEASON NOW IN SIGHT:

CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON/MEETS, TRYOUTS & SPRING SESSION EYED:

EVERYONE TRAINS TIL FRIDAY, MARCH 11:

 

            In keeping with its long term developmental goals for its swimmers, Elite will provide training for all swimmers thru Friday, March 11. Regardless of when a swimmer’s last championship meet occurs, all swimmers will be welcome to continue to train thru March 11. 

 

            All 8 & Unders, all 9 & 10’s and all 13 thru 19 swimmers will continue training AFTER their Mini Championship meet or AFTER their Silver/Bronze Meets. 13-19s will train thru their Silver-Bronze Meet, to be held March 12-13.  Junior Olympic, Sectional and Zone swimmers will continue to train thru the conclusion of their last championship meet.

 

All swimmers (with the probable exception of Sectional & Zone swimmers), will begin their Spring Season together on Monday, April 4.

 

            This schedule allows for non-JO level swimmers (and parents) 3 weeks off between seasons (much needed mental and physical rest) and Junior Olympic swimmers at least 2 full weeks off between sessions.

 

            Please note that the training within each training group will be altered during this time frame, with the post championship swimmers grouped together in practice to work on conditioning while the pre-championship swimmers will focus on stroke details, racing and resting for their upcoming championship meet.      

 

            With regards to Championship Season, all Elite 8 & Under swimmers will attend the Mini-Championships on Saturday, March 6. All Elite 9-10’s will attend the 9-10 Silver/Bronze South Championships (Elite hosts this meet at Newark Academy) Saturday February 26 & Sunday, February 27. All 11-12’s will attend the 11-12 Silver/Bronze South Championships to be held on Saturday, March 5 & Sunday, March 6 at Raritan Valley Community College.  All Elite 13 & Olders will attend the 13-19 Silver/Bronze Championships (Elite hosts this meet at Rutgers) on Saturday, March 12 & Sunday, March 13.

 

Tryouts for Elite’s Spring/Summer 2011 Session will be held Tuesday, March 22 at 4:30 pm at Newark Academy. Information regarding this tryout will be posted on the team website this week.

COLLEGE BOUND AND SWIMMING? NJ SWIMMING SCHOLARSHIP MONEY AVAILABLE:  

            New Jersey Swimmers who are attending college next year and plan to swim can apply to receive a $1,250 one-time scholarship from New Jersey Swimming.  

            Information regarding this scholarship opportunity is attached and the application will be posted on the NJ Swimming website shortly.

ELITE TO ADD 2 NEW TRAINING GROUPS THIS SPRING:

A SMALL TRAINING GROUP BETWEEN SENIOR PREPS & WAVE GOLDS &

A PRE-COMPETITION TRAINING GROUP;   

 

            Elite will expand during the Spring 2011 Session by adding two training groups to the club. Each group are created to enhance the overall performance of the club. The creation of these groups will have no affect on the training schedule of the existing 7 training groups. The Spring 2011 Session training schedule will be identical to the Winter 2010-11 training schedule.

 

            Starting with the Spring 2011 Session, Elite will promote a very select group of older swimmers (mainly if not totally Seniors-to-be in High School) into a new training group called the Senior Preps-2. This training group will train from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Morristown-Beard School along with the Seniors and Senior Preps. This group will consist of 3-10 swimmers and will train in one lane at a MBS from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

 

          Also starting in the Spring 2011 Session, Elite will create a Pre-Elite Program. This Pre-Elite program will actually be two programs in one:

 

1)      Program #1: For swimmers at the Wavebuster Teal, Marlin Black or Marlin Teal level whom would be turned away at tryouts due to lack of space within these Elite training groups. By offering these swimmers training in the Spring 2011 (and in the Fall 2011 from Sept thru Nov 15), Elite will be developing swimmers to enter Elite when room becomes available. Each year, Elite experiences attrition during the season; this training group would “feed” the Wavebuster Teals, Marlin Blacks and Marlin Teal levels during the season when space becomes available. Swimmers in this group will also be given priority entrance into Elite at the next tryout if space does not become available during the season.

 

2)      Program #2: For swimmers who are not yet at the Marlin Teal level. This program will give these swimmers “water time” to develop their swimming within the structure of Elite’s training system. These swimmers will also have priority entrance into Elite upon achieving the Marlin Teal level (when space opens up or at the next tryout).

 

            At the moment, the plan is for the Pre-Elite program will train 3 times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 1 hour (4:00 pm to 5:00 pm).

 

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 may be caused by your own lack of swimming details!!!

 

Since we are in our heaviest training, swimmers are “broken down” or tired based upon the heavy swimming workload. To stay healthy, 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!!!

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

TIMING COORDINATORS ASK FOR YOUR HELP IN RESPONDING TO EMAILS:

 

            Parents of Elite swimmers are asked to 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

Sanjeeta Mukherjee -        sanjumukhe@gmail.com         

Sue Duren -                            sueduren@aol.com

Antone Balbo -                      abalbo@comcast.net

 

NEXT UP: 9-10 SILVER/BRONZE CHAMPS; GO ELITE!!!; MEET INFORMATION POSTED; PLEASE RESPOND TO TIMER COORDINATORS EMAILS:

 

            Elite’s next competition will be the team hosted 9-10 Silver Bronze Championships for 9-10’s Saturday, February 26 & Sunday, February 27. To fulfill their parental obligation, all parents of swimmers 10 & Under (including parents of 8 & Unders and parents of swimmers with all JO times). Information regarding this meet is posted on the team website at: http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Meet%20Schedule/homepage.htm. Please have your swimmer get in the habit of checking this page on a regular basis (and report back to you about details such as warm-up times, entries, meet locations!).

           

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!!!