ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               4-11-11

 

    “Cultivating Excellence in Academics, Character and Swimming”

 

ELITE CELEBRATES ITS PAST SEASON SUCCESS AT AWARDS DINNER;

71 SWIMMERS EARN SCHOLAR/ATHLETE AWARDS;

62 SWIMMERS EARN ATTENDANCE AWARDS;

JO, ZONES & SECTIONAL MEDAL WINNERS ACKNOWLEDGED:

 

            The Winter 2010-11 Season officially came to a close yesterday when 200 swimmers and parents gathered together to celebrate Elite’s best season ever. Held at the Hanover Marriott Hotel, the 16th annual affair included speeches, multiple award ceremonies and a DJ (for dancing).

 

            Seventy-one (yes, 71!!) swimmers earned the prestigious Elite Scholar Athlete Award this year. Fully 40% of eligible Elite Swimmers received this prestigious award. Each of the swimmers names have been added to the award list already posted on the Elite website. There were 4 levels of awards earned.

 

            62 practice diligent swimmers earned the Attendance Award (85% attendance or higher!!).

 

            Chris Balbo (5), Amy Duren, Emily Gorham, Jess Gorham (2), Alicia Iizuka (2), Erika Iizuka, Christina Pick (4), Brittany Sun, Claire Xu (2), Grace Xu Jess Gorham (4), Alex Mango (3), Kaitlin Stearns (5), Ryan Sebastian (9), Sarah Slepian (6), Kaitlin Stearns (7) were acknowledged for earning JO medals.

 

            Eastern Zone qualifiers Balbo, Iizuka, Katie McGrath, Christina Pick, Gabrielle Pick and Stearns were recognized. Balbo and Stearns were presented with medals they won while at Zones.

 

            Sectional individual qualifiers Priya Duvvuri, Jess Gorham, Ali Morreale, Sarah Slepian, Lindsay Stearns, Michael Li, Alex Mango, & Ryan Sebastian were acknowledged.

 

            Alex Mango, for placing 4th in the 100 & 200 free was presented with his 4th place medals.

 

            Seniors Priya Duvvuri, Ali Morreale & Maggie Nelson, all of whom are graduating, each gave farewell speeches to their teammates and coaches, along with thanking the parents, for their efforts in helping them learn how to plan and achieve success. All 3 recounted humorous stories, poked a bit of fun at their coaches and got both themselves and the crowd emotional during their speeches.  

 

NEW SUMMER PROCEDURE FOR MULTI-DAY, NO CUT LCM MEETS:

NEW MEETS (SOME SCY) ADDED TO NJ SWIMMING’S SPRING/SUMMER SCHEDULE;  ELITE TO ENTER ONE OF THESE MEETS (TBD):

 

          Parents and swimmers familiar with the NJ Swimming’s Summer Long Course Season know that there is a distinct over-capacity issue with regards to summer meets (too many swimmers, not enough splash opportunities). In the recent past, it was a free-for-all with limited opportunities for LCM (long course – 50 meter swims) splashes. In fact, to lock Elite into an early season lcm meet, we co-host the Princeton Tigers “Tiger Challenge” Meet to be held Saturday, May 14 & Sunday, May 15.

 

            To help ease this situation, NJ Swimming has successfully lobbied teams to run more meets in the summer. This year’s schedule is provides almost double the amount of meets offered. While some of the meets are long course (there is a scarcity of lcm pools in the state), some teams are even offering short course yard meets (25 yards, the length of Newark Academy).

 

            NJ Swimming is also restricting the entries into the three multi-day, no qualifying times meets this year (Summer Solstice & Tiger Challenge being two of the 3 meets affected). During the 1st two weeks of the entry process for these meets, entries are taken only from Gold (JO) and Silver level swimmers (make 1 cut, swim 3 events) and a swimmer is restricted to 3 swims on one day. The only exception is that host clubs can enter swimmers in 4 events over two days (another benefit for Elite co-hosting Tiger Challenge; our swimmers get an extra swim).

 

            Thus, Elite swimmers who do not yet possess a Silver qualifying time are shut out of these two meets Elite enters (unless the meet is undersubscribed, in which case NJ Swimming will ultimately allow the meet to open to all swimmers). Coach Bill will explore attending one of the SCY meets offered for these Bronze level swimmers.

 

“NEW” PARENTS MEETING: WEDNESDAY, MAY 11;

 

            There will be a “New” Parents meeting on Wednesday, May 11 at 5 pm at Newark Academy. The meeting will review the structure of Elite for New Parents and provide time for new parents to ask Head Coach Bill Deatly questions. All parents new to Elite are highly encouraged to attend.

 

4 NEW CAPTAINS NAMED:

                                           

            Swimmers who attain Senior Training level status and are seniors (or about to become seniors) in high school have earned the right to be named captains of the Elite Swim Club. This year Elite has 4 swimmers who have attained this prestigious level: Brent Jones, Michael Li, Alex Mango & Ryan Wyer.

 

            Brent is to be senior at Randolph High School while Michael will be a senior at Delbarton. Alex will be a senior at Pingry while Ryan will be senior at Montville High School.

 

            Captains at Elite lead dryland practice on a daily basis in the Senior Training Group, lead meet warm-up and are expected to lead at meets and various Elite functions. Even more important, the Captains are to be great role models for their teammates.

 

            Congratulations to Brent, Michael, Alex & Ryan!!!

 

STEARNS ANNOUNCES 9th ANNUAL ELITE-A-THON TO BE SATURDAY, MAY 21: BILL TO SWIM FOR JAPAN RELIEF:

 

The 9th Annual Elite-a-thon fundraiser will be held Saturday, May 21st at Morristown-Beard from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm.

 

Like all past “Elite-a-thons,” this year’s event will be structured so each individual participating will be raising money for the “charity of their choice.” A suggestion list of charities and accompaning information is to be provided by Seniors Lindsay Stearns, the fundraiser head who is coordinating this year’s efforts. Lindsay will provide information directly to swimmers at a Sunday practice in May. Last year’s charity list is posted on the website.

 

In a tradition begun 7 years ago, Bill will swim approximately 2000 yards to raise money for his yearly charity. This year, Bill will raise money to support the American Red Cross’s relief efforts in Japan, following the devastating earthquake and tsumani suffered this past winter.

 

            All Elite swimmers and parents are encouraged to participate thru swimming or donating. Anyone can donate to a swimmer’s cause or to Bill’s cause. 

 

Information will be posted on the website under “Elite-a-thon” later shortly. Please follow the directions (do not go out soliciting for money alone!!!) and keep track of your pledge totals!!! 

 

PARKING AN ISSUE AT NEWARK ACADEMY:

 

            As we head into the Spring 2011 Session, parents are reminded that there is a distinct shortage of parking spaces at Newark Academy, especially on weekdays between 5:00 pm and 6:30 pm. Parents are welcome to “drop off” or “pick-up” their swimmers by the field house entrance during this time period if the driver remains in the car. If a parent is coming into the building, they are requested to park in the “upper” lot and walk thru the school to reach the pool.  Newark Academy is also now requesting the cars do not idle. Obviously, if the lot is not crowded, parking in the lower lot is acceptable.

 

            Please remember to drive slowly thru the parking lots and do not park in the fire lanes, as the Livingston Police will ticket improperly parked cars.

 

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

 

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!!!