ELITE NEWS BULLETIN 6-27-11
“Cultivating Excellence in Academics, Character and Swimming”
TIRED SWIMMERS FIND
STRENGTH FOR GREAT PERFORMANCES:
5TH PLACE
TEAM FINISH;
4 MORE SECTIONAL
QUALIFYING TIMES;
6 MEET RECORDS, 7 ZONE
TIMES & 27 NEW JO CUTS;
Summer Sizzle traditionally signals the beginning of summer but the end of the summer pre-championship racing season. With the exception of 1 additional meet for the Age Groupers, summer Championship season is now upon Elite swimmers. If Elite’s team performance at Sizzle 2011 are any indication of what is to come, we are in for a very exciting finale.
Elite broke 6 meet records, added 4 more sectional qualifying times, 8 additional Zone times and pushed the JO roster to 47 swimmers qualifying in 202 events. Overall, the team placed 5th against some of the best competition in NJ (and several powerhouses outside of NJ Swimming such as Team Suffolk and Empire Swimming).
In his last performance as a 14 year old, Ryan Sebastian replicated his spectacular SCY JOs and Memorial Day performances. Ryan won 7 of 8 age group events (placing 2nd in the other one), broke 4 meet records and added 2 sectional qualifying times. Ryan’s two masterpieces were his 9 second victory (and 7 second drop) in the 400 IM (4.43.60) and his 13.5 second victory (yes, 13.5 seconds faster than 2nd place!) in the 200 breast. Both swims were meet records and just missed being Scholastic All-American Times. Ryan also rewrote the Sizzle record book with his 100 breast victory (1.09.79) and the 200 IM (2.15.61). Ryan’s 200 IM and 100 fly (1.00.48) times added #7 & #8 to his sectional resume (Ryan had no sectional qualifying time prior to SCY JOs this past spring).
The 13-14 Girls 200 relays also broke meet records. The quartet of Sarah Slepian (back), Juliet Felsen (breast), Gabrielle Pick (fly) and Jess Gorham (free) lowered the record in the 200 Medley Relay to 2.11.64, while Gorham, Kaitlin Stearns, Slepian and Pick also crushed the 200 free relay standard with their 1.55.73 time (just off the 1.55.55 state record mark).
16 year old Alex Mango won the 200 free in a 1.58.19 time, placed 3rd in the 100 free (54.46), added a Sectional qualifying time in the 200 back (2.16.80-his 8th time) and earned 8 best times during this mid season competition.
17 year old Michael Li broke the Sectional barrier once again with his 8th place, 2.35.14 performance in the 200 breast. Michael also placed 5th in the 100 breast (personal best of 1.10.74).
14 year old Jess Gorham added her 4th Canadian Age Group Championship qualifying time with her 1.01.38, 4th place performance in the 100 free. Jess won the 100 back in a 1.07.17 time and placed 2nd in the 50 free (28.22).
12 year old Alicia Iizuka performed the breaststroke tri-fecta; Alicia won the 50 breast (36.59), the 100 breast (1.20.95) and the 200 breast (3.00.03-Zone cut!).
13 year old Sarah Slepian won the 400 IM in a thrilling, down to the wire race (5.16.35). Sarah placed 2nd in the 200 IM (2.32.22), 3rd in the 100 back (1.10.26) and 4th in the 200 back (2.31.88).
14 year old Anthony Rizzo, after dealing with a back injury in early June, placed 3rd in two events: 400 IM (5.03.37) and the 200 free (2.08.16). Anthony also touched 4th in the 400 free (4.30.15).
13 year old Kaitlin Stearns knocked 22 seconds off her 800 free time to place 11th in the Open event. Kaitlin also placed 2nd in the 400 free (4.42.94) and 6th in the 200 free (2.15.94).
15 year old Isabella Morreale nearly earned a Sectional qualifying time with her 4th place, 1.18.96 swim (just .27 off the cut).
12 year old Jimmy Coyne grabbed his 2nd and 3rd Zone cuts. Jimmy dropped 9.02 seconds in the 200 breast to place 5th while his 1.5 second drop in the 100 breast (1.25.46-4th place) also made the Zone grade. In the 50 breast, where he already had the Zone time, Jimmy placed 3rd (39.29). Jimmy also added a JO cut in the 200 back (2.58.30).
14 year old Gabrielle Pick placed 3rd in the 100 fly with a fabulous 1.09.03 time. Gabby also earned two new JO cuts in the IM events: 200 (2.41.86) and the 400 (5.45.22).
9 year old Erica Iizuka earned her 1st Zone qualifying time of her promising career with her 1.38.02 time in the 100 breast.
12 year old Emily Gorham earned her 3rd Zone swim this summer with her 30.27 time in the 50 free. Emily also added a JO cut in the 400 IM (5.56.74).
12 year old Amy Duren added 3 JO cuts to her stock: 100 free (1.10.10), 50 free (31.73) and 400 IM (5.59.12). Amy also dropped 18 seconds in her 4th place, 200 butterfly swim (2.46.81).
12 year old Isabelle Malinowski, swimming these events for the 1st time in long course, added 2 JO cuts: 200 fly (2.38.18) and 200 breast (3.18.42).
12 year old Christina Pick placed 4th in the 100 fly (1.13.46), 5th in the 400 free (5.01.48) and 6th in the 200 back (2.41.48).
12 year old Abbie Bigham pushed her JO total to 7 with her 200 fly time of 2.51.02 and her 200 back time of 2.52.80).
11 year old Evan Ng doubled his JO numbers with his 31.72 50 free swim and his 2.32.10 200 free time.
13 year old Cullen Walsh loved the number 400 this weekend; Cullen earned his 1st two JO cuts this summer in the 400 free (4.49.02) and the 400 IM (5.37.91).
13 year old Chris Balbo earned JO performances later this summer in both the 200 free (2.15.07) and the 200 fly (2.34.66).
16 year old Lindsey Giostra earned her 2nd JO cut this summer with her 2.58.29 swim.
13 year old Morgan Conley grabbed her 1st JO qualifying time this summer with her 30.38 time in the 50 free.
9 year old Monica Iizuka posted a new JO cut in the 50 back (42.77).
11 year old Emily Peter earned her 2nd JO swim with a 35.63 time in the 50 fly.
13 year old Caroline Nash went gold in the 100 back (1.15.02).
11 year old Claire Xu was golden in her 50 back (37.52-her 1st JO cut in the 11-12 Age bracket).
11 year old Brandon Li earned his 1st JO cut of the long course season with his 3.19.72 time in the 200 breast.
12 year old Brandon Rossi dipped under the JO standard with his 3.25.04 swim in the 200 breast.
12 year old Gian Soriano added the 100 fly to his JO stash, as he stroked to a 1.22.51 time.
14 year old Jason Steinberg added his 2nd JO swim with his 1.20.35 performance in the 100 breast.
Swimmers who
participated (# in parenthesis is number of best Elite LCM best times): Matt Ahlmeyer, Chris Balbo (9), Abbie Bigham (7), Meggie Butler, Morgan
Conley (1), Jimmy Coyne (4), Nathan Davidovich (1), Amy Duren (6), Avinash Duvvuri, Krishna Duvvuri, Rachel Emodi (1), Juliet
Felsen, Summer Felsen (1), Emily Fu (1), Lindsey Giostra (2), Emily Gorham (3),
Jess Gorham (5), Andrew Huang (1), Alicia Iizuka (4), Erica Iizuka (3), Karen
Iizuka (1), Monica Iizuka (1), Isabel LaRaia (), Brandon Li (2), Michael Li (5),
Sarah Lowe, Isabelle Malinowski (5), Alex Mango (8), Katie McGrath (1), Ryan
Miller (1), Isabella Morreale (4), Sandeepan
Mukherjee (2), Caroline Nash (3), Evan Ng (2), Emily Peter (2), Danielle
Peterson (2), Christina Pick (4), Gabrielle Pick (7), Joe Pick (2), Anthony
Rizzo, Brandon Rossi (4), Ryan Sebastian (14), Katy Shepard, Sarah Slepian (1),
Sydney Slepian (5), Gian Soriano (3), Kaitlin Stearns
(3), Lindsay Stearns, Will Stearns (2), Jason Steinberg (2), Cullen Walsh (2), Caroline
Watt (3), Adam Weinbrom & Claire Xu (3).
WINTER
2011-12 INFORMATION MAILED OUT; DEPOSITS DUE JULY 15TH;
SUMMER
SEASON/PROMOTION SCHEDULE EXPLAINED:
With the Summer
now in sight, below is an explanation of how training at Elite will work. If
you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Bill.
For the Marlin Blacks, Wavebuster Teals, Wavebuster
Blacks, Wavebuster Golds,
Senior Preps and Seniors, practice will continue thru late July/early August.
Below is a detailed explanation of
how each training group will transition. Please note that every existing Elite
swimmer will be invited to train with Elite for the Winter
2010-11 Training Session. Each swimmer will receive in mid-June (approximately
June 20) a letter inviting them to train with Elite for the Winter
2010-11 Training Season. To accept this invitation, a swimmer needs to mail
their $300 deposit check ($300 per swimmer if a multiple swimmer family) to
Bill prior to Thursday, July 15. If a swimmer does not mail in their deposit
but would like to train with Elite, they will need to tryout for Elite at one
of the two Elite tryouts (1st one on Tuesday, July 20st).
There is no guarantee a swimmer will regain their roster spot during tryouts-it
is NOT automatic. Elite will take the best swimmers at tryouts, regardless of
longevity on Elite. To secure a roster spot, one needs to mail in their deposit
prior to Thursday, July 15.
Marlin Teals: During the
summer, there is no training for Marlin Teals (they should participate for
their local swim clubs and shine!!!). Letters regarding which training group a
swimmer will be placed in for Winter 2010-11 will be sent in mid-June
(including promotions-there will be a few into Marlin Blacks). All Marling
Teals will need to send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by
Thursday, July 15.
Marlin Blacks: During the summer, there is no summer
training for Marlin Blacks (they should participate for their local swim clubs
and shine!!!). Letters regarding which training group a swimmer will be placed
in for Winter 2010-11 will be send in mid-June (including promotions-there may
be a few into Wavebuster Teals). If a swimmer is
promoted into Wavebuster Teals by reason of the June
roster letter, that swimmer is invited to train as a Wavebuster
Teal this summer (see Wave Teal explanation). If a newly promoted swimmer
chooses to train with Elite this summer, they will be entered into summer
Championship Meets (see Meet Schedule on website). These swimmers will also be
billed a pro-rata rate for their Summer training
participation. A promoted swimmer can opt not to train with Elite and it will
not affect their status for Winter 2010-11. All Marlin Blacks will need to send in their
$300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Thursday, July 15.
Wavebuster Teals: The Wavebuster
Teals have the option to train with Elite this summer at Cromwell Pool (see
summer schedule). And in fact, they have paid for this option within their Spring 2010 bill. Swimmers who want to train but have
conflicts (vacation, car pools, etc) are strongly encouraged to come to
practice whenever they can. Swimmers who
come to summer practices will be entered into summer Championship Meets (see
Meet Schedule on website). Letters regarding Winter
2010-11 will be send in mid-June. Swimmers whom at that time have earned a
promotion into Wavebuster Blacks will receive a
letter of promotion in mid June. A promoted swimmer will remain a Wavebuster Teal until the Winter
2010-11 Season. All promotions will be conditional upon continued performance
and attendance thru late July. Regardless of placement, swimmers will need to
send in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Thursday, July
15.
Wavebuster Blacks; Wavebuster
Golds, Senior Preps & Seniors: Swimmers in
these training groups are expected to train with Elite during the summer, as
participation in these training groups is year round. Swimmers in these
training groups will be entered into summer Championship Meets (see Meet
Schedule on website). Letters regarding the Winter
2010-11 session will be send in mid-June. A promoted swimmer will remain within
their current training group until the Winter 2010-11
Season. All promotions will be conditional upon continued performance and
attendance thru late July. Regardless of placement, swimmers will need to send
in their $300 deposit to reserve their roster spot by Thursday, July 15.
NEW TEAM WEBSITE COMING:
ELITE PART OF TEAMUNIFY PLATFORM;
HUGE NEW BENEFITS ANTICIPATED:
UPGRADED COMMUNICATION
SYSTEM INCLUDING
ONLINE REGISTRATION
& CREDIT CARD PAYMENT PROGRAM
PLUS COOL NEW COACHING
TOOL:
As part of Head Coach Bill Deatly’s continual upgrading of the program, Elite has contracted with webserver TeamUnify http://www.teamunify.com/__corp__/ to host Elite’s new upgraded website.
Pursuant to TeamUnify’s mission, they have “the most advanced swim team management platform in existence.” Nationwide, over 1500 team use TeamUnify. A sample of a NJ TeamUnify website is the Bergen Baracudas at http://www.bbswim.org/Home.jsp?team=njbbst.
There are numerous features that the new website will offer Elite Swim Club members:
1) Each swimmer will have their own account. Information can be stored in this account that no other swimmer/family can access.
2) Each swimmer/family will do their own registration on-line. This means that there are no more Elite forms to fill out and all information is stored on the website. To change an email address, the actual swimmer/parent will do so directly on the website, instantly updating the information. Billing will also be coordinated thru this account, as a family accounts will be easily assessable from each family’s computer or mobile communication device. Credit Card and direct deposit will be options of payment-starting Sept 1.
3) Email communication from the coaches can be broad based, sliced to just a training group or individualized. Communication will significantly improve with regards to meet coordination, practice changes, etc.
4) Several practice calendar options so a swimmer/parent can access only the information they need.
But by far the coolest feature is what TeamUnify calls “On Deck Mobile Coach” and On Deck Mobile Parent.” Coaches will be able to store audio (and probably video in the near future) in each swimmer’s personal account. This means that coaches can have technique and race analysis conversations on deck recorded and saved within each swimmer’s personal account to be accessed by coach, swimmer and parent at anytime thru ipad, iphone and itouch (sorry, this is only an Apple feature but the application is a free download).
Head Coach Bill Deatly envisions smoother and more direct communication, easier access to Elite by club members, easier and a variety of payment options (credit card and direct on-line pay) PLUS an amazing coaching tool that will help coaches, swimmers and parents to be on the same page (and to have parents listen and understand what is being communicated to their swimmers).
TeamUnify anticipates it will take approximately 1 month to build a new Elite website and train Bill how to upload information, etc. The website will definitely be in use by the start of the Winter 2011-12 Session in September but Bill will work to implement it even sooner!!
ESCPO
OFFERING ELITE BACKPACKS FOR WINTER 2011- 2012
BACKPACKS
ON SALE UNTIL 7-1-11
The Elite Swim Club Parents
Organization (“ESCPO”) is now coordinating an Elite Backpack Sale – the Speedo
Backpack includes an Elite Logo and personalization. The backpack is
available for purchase by all Elite swimmers from now until Friday July 1,
2011. Expected delivery is September 2011.
The
order form is now posted on the team website at:
http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Parents%20Org/Elite%20Backpacks%20for%20FALL%202011.pdf
Carolyn
Balbo (cbalbo@comcast.net) is the
parent organization’s contact. Parents/swimmers should mail the form and check
directly to Carolyn at the address listed on the form.
COMING
NEXT FALL: ELITE PARENT MEET SHIRTS
PLEASE
RETURN YOUR FORM WITH FALL DEPOSIT:
As part of your ESCPO Parent
Association dues this year, all families will be provided with TWO
Parent T-shirts to be worn at Elite hosted and Co-hosted meets. Please
complete the T-shirt size form included in your swimmer’s promotion letter and
return the form to Bill and Brandy along with your swimmer registration
information by July 15, 2011. Please contact Carolyn Balbo (cbalbo@comcast.net) with questions.
Additional forms are available on the team website. http://www.eliteswimclub.org/Parents%20Org/Parent%20T-shirt%20Flyer%20-%20For%20Posting.pdf.
ELITE-A-THON LANDS ON HOME
PAGE OF USA SWIMMING’S WEBSITE:
SWIMMERS OVER $10,000!!
38 SWIMMERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT 10th ANNUAL
ELITE-A-THON!!
CAMPBELL, HARTWIG,
LEVEY, ORDOWER & SMITH COMBINE TO RAISE OVER $6000!!!!
As
has been noted in past bulletins, Elite swimmers did a spectacular job raising
money this spring in the 10th Annual Elite-a-thon fundraiser has
completely blown away last year’s totals, which was the largest in recent
memory!! With 19 swimmers reporting, Elite-a-thon totals stand at $9,775!!! With help
from coordinator Lindsay Stearns, Elite swimmers MAY get some national
recognition!!
Lindsay
and mom (Ginger) recently reached out to USA Swimming regarding our swimmers
fund-raising efforts this spring. Today, USA Swimming responded with a barrage
of questions regarding who, how, when & about this year’s Elite-a-thon. It
is possible that USA Swimming will provide some coverage of the event in their
on-line version of Splash Magazine (as early as this Wednesday!!).
If you have not given Lindsay your
numbers and/or you have collected even more money than Lindsay knows about,
PLEASE email Lindsay asap to
give her your totals!!!
On
Saturday, May 22, 38 wimmers spent 2 hours Saturday
afternoon swimming to raise money for their own charities!! The back-to-back
successes are a result of Elite swimmers who care about giving back to the
community.
7 year old Sadie Ordower has raised over $1600
for American Liver Foundation, showing fabulous support for her sick
grandfather. 11 year old Abbie Hartwig
has raised $885 (and expects more!). 8 year old Delaney Smith has raised $1000 for
Juvenile Diabetes! And Ben Campbell reported this week “I was swimming for WorldVision, trying to raise $2,600 for a
water well. I swam 139 laps and have raised $2,215 to date.
There are a couple of people who have told me they would support me but haven’t
sent in checks yet, so I hope that number will be higher and closer to my
goal.”
8 year old Grace Levey raised over $1085 in her
spectacular effort to help her friend and neighbor Sydney thru her
charity: Make Some Noise. This charity is a foundation that is helping
Sydney, who has been diagnosed with bone cancer. Grace reports: “This
charity is trying to help find treatments for kids with cancer and let
more people know about pediatric cancer. The day of the swim-a-thon was
also Sydney's bat mitzvah! I was at her service in the morning. I
feel really proud of what I did to help my friend.”
The
following were the Elite swimmers who participated:
Chris
Balbo: $200 to Celiac Sprue Association, Lindsay
Behar: Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer, Caitlin Brown:
$500 to Arthritis Foundation, Hannah Brownstein: Pulmunary
Foundation, Cordelia Burn: $100 to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer, Eloise Burn: $100 to Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer, Sarah Burn: $100 to Make a Wish
Foundation, Ben Campbell: $2,215 to World Vision (A Water Well), Juliet Felsen: Dystonia
Research, Summer Felsen: Dystonia Research, Emily Fu:
Japan Relief, Ariel Gelman: Red Cross Disaster Relief, Emily Gorham: St. Judes, Jess Gorham: St. Judes,
Abby Hartwig: $885 to Camp Boggy Creek, Angharad Healey $50 to St. Huberts
Animal Shelter, Erica Iizuka: St Huberts Animal
Shelter, Monica Iizuka: American Cancer Society, Cloe
Lawrence $201 to Anti-Hunger Coalition, Sophie Lawrence $201 to Jersey Animal
Coalition, Grace Levey $1085 for Make Some Noise, Alyssa Levy: Valerie Fund,
Ben Litvin: Emet College Outreach, Greg Macchia: tba, Isabelle Malinowski $50 to Autism, Daniel Mangabat:
American Cancer Society, Alex Mango: $500 to Mt. Pleasant Animal Hospital,
Katie McGrath: Make A Wish, Darragh O’Gorman: Red Cross Disaster Relief, Sadie
Ordower $1,453 for American Liver Foundation, Andrea Shepard: Down the Block,
Inc, Delaney Smith: $1000 to Juvenile Diabetes, Kaitlin Stearns: $300 to Bridges,
Lindsay Stearns: $300 to Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer, Will Stearns: $300 to Cora Hartshorn
Arboretum, Sachi Tanwar:
Make a Wish, Cullen Walsh $225 to Wildlife Conservation Society, Ryan Wyer: Red Cross Disaster Relief
SAY
CHEESE AND DOWNLOAD PLEASE!
MEMORY
BOOK PICTURES NEEDED!
It is never
too early to think about next years memory book!
Thank you Pam Coyne for doing a great job with the memory book this year!
Laura Matheson (Cody's mom!) has agreed to put together the book and slide show
for next years banquet. Parents and
swimmers can provide pictures to Laura by email kmatheson531@earthlink.net,
by thumb drive or by compact disk. Laura can usually be found in the
bleachers during Wave Gold practices. Send your pictures to Laura as
you take them and she will be sure that some of your favorite photos are
included in this years memory book! Remember,
summer is a great time to get candid shots of your favorite swimmers
at practice or at our many fun filled events.
ELITE’S NEXT MEET HOSTING CHALLENGE: OFF-SITE HOSTING;
CONSTRUCTION AT NA NEXT FALL/WINTER WILL CHANGE PLANS FOR DISTANCE DERBY
& 9-10’S:
Elite’s newest meet hosting challenge: hosting a meet off site from Newark Academy!
Last week, Newark Academy informed Elite that there will be, starting in July, major construction on the building which will significantly reduce the size of the “upper” parking lot during construction. NA has confirmed that Elite’s practice schedule will not be affected by the construction.
Elite has already begun exploring alternative sites to run both Distance Derby (in November) and the 2012 9-10 Silver/Bronze Championship Meet (in February).
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: FRIDAY NIGHT (11 & OLDERS & XCEL-9-10S)
GO ELITE!!!; MEET INFORMATION POSTED; PLEASE
RESPOND TO TIMER COORDINATORS EMAILS:
Elite’s next competition will be Friday Night Splash on Friday, July 8th at Bayonne for 11 & Olders in the Wavebuster Training Groups and the X-Cellence Meet for 9-10 at Princeton University on Sunday, July 10. Elite will have multiple timing assignments. 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!!!