ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               2-28-11

 

    “Cultivating Excellence in Academics, Character and Swimming”

 

WET ELITE HOSTS INHOSPITABLE;

DRY ELITE HOSTS VERY HOSPITABLE

AT 9-10 SILVER BRONZE

 

E. IIZUKA (2), S. MUKHERJEE, J.PICK, S. SLEPIAN (4) &

G. XU WIN 9 SILVER EVENTS!!

 

CAMPBELL, R. MCBOYLE & J. PICK WIN 3 BRONZE EVENTS;

 

E. IIZUKA (2), M. IIZUKA (2), T. MAGUIRE (2), S. MUKHERJEE,

S. SLEPIAN (3), SUN (3), XU ADD 14 JUNIOR OLYMIC QUALIFYING TIMES:

 

            While the dry Elite hosts were executing a spectacularly well run championship meet, the wet Elite hosts were busy grabbing top spots and medals at this past weekend’s New Jersey Swimming’s 9-10 Silver Bronze Championships South Meet held at Newark Academy.

 

          12 of the 90 individual events contested were won by Elite swimmers while 7 Elite swimmers posted 14 JO cut times in what was truly the “last chance” for these swimmers to qualify for the Junior Olympics. While the Elite parents (as described in the next article) were the most gracious of hosts, providing 548 swimmers (nearly 80 more than last year) the opportunity to compete in this important end of the season championship meet, the Elite swimmers only grudgingly allowed swimmers from other teams to participate in the glory of this meet.

 

            In understanding the divisions and awards, please remember that there were really two meets being held this weekend simultaneously: a Silver level meet and a Bronze level meet. In addition, each age group was broken up into the specific ages 9 and 10. Thus, the swimmers were divided by sex, specific age and by Silver and Bronze entry times. Divisions (Silver and Bronze) were determined by their entry time. Lastly, this meet represented only half of the 9-10 swimmers in New Jersey Swimming, as this meet was the “South” meet; an equally competitive meet was held simultaneously this past weekend at Bergen Community College in Paramus.

 

            9 year old Sydney Slepian, who joined Elite in November led Elite with her 4 victories in the Silver Division along with her 3 new Junior Olympic qualifying times in 5 swims. Sydney won the 500 free (6.57.81) & the 50 fly (35.81) in new JO times, won the 100 fly (1.28.84) & the 50 free (32.43) in non-JO times and placed 2nd in the 100 IM (1.20.29) in a JO cut. As a 9 year old, Sydney has 9 JO qualifying times! All of Sydney’s swims were Silver Division.    

 

            9 year old Erica Iizuka won both the 100 IM (1.20.28) and the 200 IM (2.55.96) in earning her 5th and 6th JO swims. Erica also placed 2nd in the 100 back (1.22.08), 4th in the 50 free (34.11) and 5th in both the 50 back (38.64) and the 100 free (1.16.09). All of Erica’s swims were Silver Division.   

 

            9 year old Joe Pick won an event in each division; in the Silver division, Joe placed 1st in the 100 breast (1.37.74) while in the Bronze Division, Joe placed 1st in the 50 breast (46.89). Joe also was 2nd in the Silver Division 100 IM (1.27.20) and was 3rd in the 200 IM (3.01.49).

 

            10 year old Sandeepan Mukherjee rocketed to a winning and JO qualifying time in the 50 free (30.92). Also in Silver division swims, Sandeepan placed 3rd in the 200 free (2.41.62) & 4th in both the 100 free (1.12.74) and the 200 IM (3.11.50).

 

            10 year old Grace Xu won the Silver Division 50 fly with her 36.33 performance. In her only other event (Grace already has 10 JO cuts), Grace placed 6th in the 50 back (38.34).

 

            10 year old Brittany Sun, who started the weekend with 7 JO swims, earned 3 more. Brittany earned new JO swims in her 500 free (6.57.47-6th place), 50 free (31.47-4th place) & 200 free (2.34.33-4th place). Brittany also placed 2nd in the 50 back (37.58) and the 50 breast (42.96).

 

            In 6 Silver swims, 9 year old Monica Iizuka placed no lower than 3rd in picking up two JO cuts: 200 IM (2.58.93-2nd place) and the 50 fly (36.26-2nd place). Monica also placed 3rd in 4 separate events: 100 IM (1.24.29), 100 free (1.15.37), 50 back (38.35) and 50 free (34.04).

 

            10 year Teddy Maguire also had an awesome meet, earning his 1st and 2nd JO cuts of his career. In Silver Division action, Teddy placed 5th in both the 50 fly (36.73) and the 100 fly (1.26.54) to earn his first Elite JO t-shirt. In Bronze Division swims, Teddy placed 2nd in the 100 free (1.20.91), 4th in the 50 breast (47.83) and 5th in the 200 free (3.01.08).

 

            10 year old Claire Xu successfully ran the table as she qualified for her 12th and last JO swim with her 6th place 500 free performance of 6.55.65.

 

            9 year old Ben Campbell won the Bronze Division 50 free with his 35.87 performance. Ben also placed 2nd in two Silver events: 50 breast (45.55) & the 100 breast (1.39.83) while also placing 2nd in two Bronze Division events: 100 IM (1.30.48) & the 50 fly (41.41); both which were new Silver times!

 

            10 year old Reid McBoyle dropped 3.4 seconds to win the Bronze Division 100 breast in 1.45.74.

 

            10 year old Megan Balbo placed 2nd in the 100 IM in the Silver Division with her 1.22.91 swim.

 

            10 year old Emily Fu placed 4th in the 50 fly (37.40) and 6th in the 100 fly (1.35.41) in the Silver Division.

 

            10 year old Ben Litvin grabbed 4th place in the 100 breast (1.44.16) in the Bronze Division, which swim was a silver time.

 

            10 year old Leighton Mayers nabbed 2nd place in the 100 back (1.28.89) and 3rd place in the 50 back (40.14) in the Silver Division.

 

            10 year old Brandon Rossi collected a 6th place finish in the Silver Division in the 100 breast, placed 3rd in the Bronze Division 100 free (1.21.50) and 6th in the Bronze 50 free (38.67).

 

            9 year old Will Stearns earned three 4th place finishes: in the 100 back (1.27.70) and in the 200 free (2.53.49) in the Silver Division and in the 500 free (7.35.26) from the Bronze Division.

 

            9 year old Zowie Vukasinovic dropped 11 seconds to earn a 5th place in the Bronze Division 100 breast (1.50.13).

 

            9 year old Doris Xia clipped 3 seconds off her 100 breast to earn a 5th place in the Bronze Division 100 breast (1.49.12).                     

 

            Full results are posted on the team website.

 

            Swimmers who participated (# in parenthesis is number of best Elite SCY best times): Megan Balbo (5), Sarah Burn (4), Ben Campbell (6), Koby Cohen (5), Aaron Damesek (2), Summer Felsen (5), Emily Fu (6), Gabby Hayek (6), Erica Iizuka (6), Monica Iizuka (5), Ryan Lam (2), Chloe Lawrence (3), Ben Litvin (1), Livia Maguire (5), Teddy Maguire (6), Angelina Mayers (5), Leighton Mayers (2), Reid McBoyle (4), Sandeepan Mukherjee (4), Joe Pick (6), Jason Rossi (4), Samantha Siracusa (3), Sydney Slepian (4), Kat Slover (3), Delaney Smith (4), Will Stearns (2), Brittany Sun (5), Sachi Tanwar (2), Zowie Vukasinovic (5), Doris Xia (6), Claire Xu (1), Grace Xu (1) & Katherine Zhang (5).

 

MAGNIFICIENT PERFORMANCE BY ELITE PARENTS PROVIDE 3012 SPLASH OPPORTUNITIES FOR 548 SWIMMERS!!!

 

            Once again, the Elite parents performed at a level approaching their swimmers in hosting New Jersey Swimming’s 9-10 Silver Bronze Championship South Meet. The meet, which is the last chance for swimmers 9 and 10 to qualify for the prestigious Junior Olympic Meet, provided 548 New Jersey swimmers with 3012 splash opportunities (nearly 500 more splashes than last year).

 

            Coordinating the meet was Carolyn Balbo, whose management skills and attention to details made the meet a fabulous success. Many of the visiting coaches & parents made a point to tell our coaches & our parents that this meet was extremely well run.

 

            The Elite Coaches and the Elite 9-10 year olds would like to thank all the parents and older Elite swimmers who helped out make this meet such a huge success and for providing both Elite and New Jersey Swimmers the last opportunity to qualify for Junior Olympics.   

 

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

Meet Coordination for the 13 & Older Silver Bronze Championships is in full gear for this championship meet which Elite will host next weekend –March 12 & March 13 at Rutgers University. All parents of swimmers 13 & Older including those swimmers not participating in the meet are expected to work this meet as part of their parental obligation to Elite. 

            The volunteer job assignments for the 13 & Older Silver Bronze Meet are expected to be sent out later this week. 13 & Older parents should email Carolyn Balbo at cbalbo@comcast.net to confirm their volunteer job assignments.  Thank you to everyone for their help!

            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: 11-12 SILVER/BRONZE CHAMPS & MINI-CHAMPS; GO ELITE!!!; MEET INFORMATION POSTED; PLEASE RESPOND TO TIMER COORDINATORS EMAILS:

 

            Elite’s next competition will be the team host 11-12 Silver Bronze Championships for 11-12’s Saturday, March 5 & Sunday, March 6 & the Mini-Champs on Sunday, March 6. Information regarding these meets are 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!!!