ELITE NEWS BULLETIN               5-16-11

 

    “Cultivating Excellence in Academics, Character and Swimming”

 

SWIMMERS GET REACQUAINTED WITH RACING, BIG POOL:

A. RIZZO (2), SEBASTIAN, SLEPIAN & WALSH WIN EVENTS;

BIGHAM (2), M. FERNANDES, E. IIZUKA, MALINOWSKI, NASH, E. PETER, C. PICK (3), A. RIZZO (4) & S. SLEPIAN EARN 15 JO CUTS;

 

            In their 1st competition of the Spring/Summer 2011 training cycle, Elite Swimmers got reacquainted with why they are training this past weekend at Tiger Challenge 2011 held at Princeton University. While they were at it, they familiarized themselves with long course racing (50 meter pool racing rather than 25 yard pool racing-which is the Winter pool size).

 

            With the Spring/Summer training and racing cycle condensed (compared to the Winter cycle), much needed to be accomplished by Elite swimmers at Tiger Challenge. For those swimmers who had previously qualified for Memorial Day Invitational, this meet was a tune-up for that competition in 2 weeks; these swimmers competed in their secondary events-saving their best events for that meet. For those swimmers who have not qualified for Memorial Day, this meet was an opportunity to race their best events & update their long course (lcm) times. And remember, our swimmers have only be training 6 weeks-not a lot of time to get into racing shape.

 

            14 year old Anthony Rizzo, who joined Elite this spring, showed off his swimming skills in winning 2 events: the 100 fly (1.05.76) and the 200 back (2.27.16). Both times were fast enough to qualify Anthony for Eastern Zones. Anthony followed up by placing 2nd in the 100 back (1.09.35) and 3rd in the 800 free (9.25.81)-both JO cuts.

 

            14 year old Ryan Sebastian, who was last seen finaling at Sectionals in 2 events, picked up where he left off by winning the 200 free (2.06.46) and following up with three 2nd place finishes (800 free-9.18.64, 50 free-26.97 & 100 free-58.85).

 

            13 year old Sarah Slepian performed a tri-fecta, as she won the 200 fly (2.35.80), placed 2nd in the 800 free (9.59.21) and 3rd in the 400 free (4.55.56). Slepian’s 800 free time was her 10th JO cut time earned.

 

            13 year old Cullen Walsh touched 1st in the 200 fly, with his 2.47.80 performance. Earlier in the meet, Cullen scored an 8th place finish in the 800 free (10.14.13).

 

            12 year old Christina Pick rocked all of her events, as she placed 2nd in both the 400 free (5.07.39) & the 50 fly (33.73) and 3rd in both the 400 IM (5.45.94) and the 100 free (1.07.80). The 400 free, the 400 IM and the 50 fly were new JO cuts for Christina.

 

            16 year old Alex Mango snagged a 2nd place finish in the 800 free (9.12.06), with a 10 second drop. Alex followed up with a 3rd place finish in the 200 fly (2.22.12) and a 5th place finish in the 200 IM (2.23.97).

 

            13 year old Kaitlin Stearns grabbed 3rd place in the 800 free (10.12.14). Kaitlin’s 2.58.32 time was good enough for a 6th place finish in the 200 fly.

 

            13 year old Caroline Nash stroked to a 3rd place finish in the 200 fly (2.47.88), for her 1st JO cut in her new age group.

 

            14 year old Caroline Watt touched 4th twice: once in the 800 free (10.12.83) and once in the 200 fly (2.49.06). Caroline was also 5th in the 100 fly (1.16.43).

 

            9 year old Erica Iizuka clipped nearly 6 seconds off her 100 free time (1.23.24) to place 4th. Erica also placed 5th in the 100 back (1.32.75-11 second drop) and 6th in the 400 free (6.24.54-her 1st time in the event). The 100 back was Erica’s 5th JO cut earned so far.

 

            11 year old Brandon Li stroked to a 4th place finish in the 100 breast (1.36.84) and followed with a 5th place finish in the 400 IM (6.28.61).

 

            10 year old Teddy Maguire churned to a 4th place finish in the 50 fly (41.63) and a 6th place finish in the 100 fly (1.34.63).

 

            12 year old Matthew Critchley dropped nearly 6 seconds in the 100 back (1.20.29) to place 4th. 15 year old Lindsay Stearns earned a 4th place in the 400 free (5.05.61).

 

            13 year old Chris Balbo snuck under the 10 minute mark in his 5th place, 800 free swim (9.58.43). 12 year old Isabelle Malinowski took 5th in the 400 IM with her 6.06.02 JO performance.

 

            12 year old Abbie Bigham went gold twice, earning JO swims in both her 6th place finish in the 800 free (11.15.23) and her 7th place finish in the 400 free (5.27.80). Abbie also placed 6th in the 400 IM (6.07.65).

 

            9 year old Sydney Slepian earned two 6th place finishes: 1) in the 400 free (6.33.34) and 2) in the 100 free (1.23.74).

 

            11 year old Emily Peter, also new to Elite this spring, raced to a 6th place finish and a Junior Olympic qualifying time with her 1.22.46 time in the 100 fly.

 

            12 year old Alicia Iizuka dropped 12 seconds to place 6th in the 200 IM (2.56.20). 10 year old Sandeepan Mukherjee scored a 6th place finish in the 200 IM (3.38.56). 9 year old Joe Pick earned a 6th place finish in the 50 fly (43.78).

 

            12 year old Matthew Fernandes, competing for Elite for the 1st time, earned a JO cut with his 36.66 performance in the 50 butterfly.

 

            Swimmers who participated (# in parenthesis is number of best Elite LCM best times): Matt Ahlmeyer (3), Jenni Allocco (2), Chris Balbo (2), Megan Balbo (3), Lindsay Behar (3), Natalia Beltran (3), Mark Berns (4), Abbie Bigham (4), Caitlin Brown (1), Eloise Burn (3), Meggie Butler (5), Richie Carchia (6), Grace Chang (4), John Chiang (5), Morgan Conley (5), Jimmy Coyne (6), Matt Critchley (2), Elizabeth D’Altrui (4), Nathan Davidovich (3), Amy Duren (1), Corey Duren (4), Sam Duren (2), Avi Duvvuri (4), Krishna Duvvuri (3), Juliet Felsen, Summer Felsen (3), Matt Fernandes (6), Andrea Ferrell (3), Emily Fu (4), Patrick Gilfillan (6), Lindsey Giostra (2), Jake Gutstein (3), Abbie Hartwig (6), Gab Hayek (6), Angharad Healey (6), Alicia Iizuka (6), Erica Iizuka (5), Karen Iizuka (6), Monica Iizuka (4), Katie Iovel (6), Brent Jones, Nat Kawan (3), Rachel Keselman (6), Audrey Kim (6), Jessica Kraus (2), Patrick Lai (3), Clark LaRaia (3), Isabel LaRaia (3), Brandon Li (6), Michael Li (1), Sarah Lowe (6), Greg Macchia (4), Michael Macchia (6), Teddy Maguire (6), Isabelle Malinowski (4), Alex Mango (1), Cody Matheson (5), Katie McGrath (3), Karl Melchior (5), Matthew Migliozzi, Ryan Miller (1), Isabella Morreale (1), Charlotte Morrissey (4), Sandeepan Mukherjee (6), Fred Nagle (6), Caroline Nash (4), Eugene Ng (3), Evan Ng (6), Darragh O’Gorman (4), Nick Pachiolo (3), Emily Peter (6), Christina Pick (4), Gabrielle Pick (3), Joseph Pick (5), Natalie Pruitt (6), Anthony Rizzo (4), Michael Rizzo (6), Niki Rizzo (6), Brandon Rossi (3), Ryan Sebastian (3), Andrea Shepard, Katy Shepard (3), Jonas Singer (1), Sarah Slepian (2), Sydney Slepian (4), Gian Soriano (3), Kaitlin Stearns (2), Lindsay Stearns, Will Stearns (6), Jason Steinberg (5), Abir Thakur (5), Katie Tselepis (2), Cullen Walsh (4), Caroline Watt (3), Ryan Wyer, Vivian Xia (6), Claire Xu (3) & Katherine Zhang (6).

 

2010-11 SCHOLAR-ATHLETE INFORMATION NOW POSTED;

 

            The 2010-11 Scholar-Athlete Award winners have now been posted on the team website. Congratulations to the 72 swimmers who earned scholar-athlete awards!!

 

TOP 10 ALL-TIME SCY TIMES LIST UPDATED & POSTED;

 

            Elite’s Top 10 All-Time SCY Times List has been updated and posted on the team website. Congratulations to all those swimmers who earned top 10 times this year!!

 

STEARNS ANNOUNCES 9th ANNUAL ELITE-A-THON TO BE HELD

THIS SATURDAY, MAY 21: BILL TO SWIM FOR JAPAN RELIEF:

 

The 9th Annual Elite-a-thon fundraiser will be held THIS 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 accompanying 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!!! 

 

SCY INTRA-CLUB MEET ADDED JUNE 4 AT NEWARK ACADEMY

FOR WAVE TEALS, MARLIN BLACKS AND MARLIN TEALS; 

 

            Elite will hold a SCY Intra-Club competition on Saturday, June 4 at Newark Academy for the Wavebuster Teals, the Marlin Blacks and the Marlin Teals training groups. The meet has been added to the meet schedule on the team website. Entries will be added shortly.

 

            In previous years, these training groups have attended a SCY meet during the spring session. This year, Elite was unable to find an appropriate meet in which to attend. The Elite Intra-Club meet will provide Elite swimmers in these training groups the opportunity to update their SCY times, which will help some swimmers to qualify for early season meets next fall.

 

            Coincidently, MBS will be closed the following day (Sunday, June 5); so this meet will also serve as a practice for the Marlins that weekend.

 

            Since this is an Intra-Club Meet, Elite will need to provide all the timers. Parents will be contacted by the timing coordinators to coordinate the timing assignments for the meet.

           

ELITE TO RENT MILLBURN MUNICIPAL POOL THIS SUMMER

FOR WAVE TEAL & WAVE BLACKS;

MARLIN BLACKS NOW PROVIDED OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN AT MBS

THIS SUMMER:

 

            Millburn has tentatively agreed to rent Elite the Millburn Municipal Pool, located just off Parsonage Hill Road (near JFK Turnpike) during the summer mornings. Elite will be renting the Millburn pool Monday thru Thursday, from 7:15 am to 8:30 am.

 

            The Wavebuster Teals will train all 4 days at Millburn; the Wavebuster Blacks will train at Millburn on Mondays and Wednesdays (alongside the Wavebuster Teals). The Wavebuster Blacks will also train at Springfield Municipal on Tuesdays and Thursdays (as previously set).

 

            Having the Wavebuster Blacks train at Millburn will free up space at Morristown-Beard School on Mondays and Wednesdays which will allow Elite to offer an optional Marlin Black practice on those days. The optional Marlin Black practice will be held from 4 pm to 5 pm. Elite will charge a per practice charge for the Marlin Blacks.

 

            With all changes made at Elite, the ultimate goal is to make the program stronger. The decision to rent the Millburn pool was based upon the following:

 

1)      Last summer, Elite rented the Cromwell Pool in Morristown. While Cromwell provided the space for the Wavebuster Teals to train in during June & July, the pool lanes were not wide enough and the pool was just not large enough to properly accommodate Elite.

2)      The Millburn Pool is a recently (within the last 10 years) renovated, 6 lane pool with additional space for coaches to work on stroke technique “outside” the pool lanes.

3)      The Millburn Pool is significantly closer to the Springfield Municipal Pool, which will help those families who have swimmers training at each location

4)      Renting the Millburn Pool will provide a consistent practice schedule for both the Wavebuster Teals & Wavebuster Blacks as all practices for both these training groups will be held in the am (rather than the alternating am and pm practices the previous summer schedule provided). The one exception is that the Wavebuster Blacks will still be offered a Friday pm practice at MBS

5)      The larger Millburn pool allows for Elite to offer two practices a week for the Marlin Blacks at Morristown Beard School, which training group previously had no summer practice time with Elite. This allows more swimmers training with Elite this summer.

 

            The updated Master Schedule for June 20th thru July 27th is now posted on the team website.

           

SEBASTIAN & SLEPIAN NAMED TO EASTERN ZONE SELECT CAMP:

1ST ELITE SWIMMERS TO BE SO INVITED: 

         

            Last January, USA Swimming named two Elite swimmers, Ryan Sebastian and Sarah Slepian to its Eastern Zone Select Camp to be held May 19th thru May 22, 2011 at Penn State University. It is the first time any Elite swimmer has been named to this camp (although these camps are only a few years old).

 

            Ryan and Sarah were selected on the basis of their total IMX score in comparison to all other swimmers their age within the Eastern Zone (Maine thru Virginia). This is a score is created by USA Swimming that assigns a specific point total to each time achieved in the following 6 events: 200 IM, 400 IM, 500 Free, 200 Back, 200 Breast and 200 Fly.  This score is meant to be a motivational tool for swimmers to compete within these grueling events. Any swimmer can go onto USA Swimming’s website and find out their IMX score.

 

            Congrats to Ryan and Sarah!!     

 

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

 

NEXT UP: MEMORIAL DAY INVITATIONAL: NEXT WEEKEND

GO ELITE!!!; MEET INFORMATION POSTED; PLEASE RESPOND TO TIMER COORDINATORS EMAILS:

 

            Elite’s next competition will be the Memorial Day Invitational Meet for all qualifying swimmers on Saturday, May 28 & Sunday, May 29 at Rutgers University. Please have your swimmer get in the habit of checking the team website 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!!!