BLIZZARD OF FABULOUS PERFORMANCES-THE SEQUEL; ELITE SWIMMERS (AND PARENTS) AWESOME AT 13-19 SILVER BRONZE!! !  

NELSON & C. ALLOCCO’S PERFORMANCES ADD 2 ADDITIONAL SECTIONAL RELAYS FOR LASSES; FOR 1^ST TIME; ELITE HAS QUALIFIED ALL 10 SECTIONAL RELAYS!!!  

C. ALLOCCO, V. DUVVURI, M. LI, NELSON (2), L. STEARNS WIN 6 SILVER EVENTS!!    

C. ALLOCCO, V. DUVVURI, FELSEN (2), J. GORHAM (4), HALL, M. HONG (3), M. LI, B. MILLER-RADEST, I. MORREALE, NELSON (2), G. PICK, SEBASTIAN (2), A. SHEPARD (2), L. STEARNS (2), WATT & YU (2) 27 JUNIOR OLYMIC QUALIFYING TIMES: 

            Oops, we did it again!  

            Elite again rolled out our impressive formula of swimming spectacular at a Silver-Bronze meet while our parents provided the opportunity!

             This past weekend (following last weekend’s 9-10 Silver/Bronze South Championships), Elite co-hosted (along with MCSC) 1750 swimmers and provided 8600 splashes at New Jersey Swimming’s 13 & Older Silver/Bronze Championships held at Rutgers University. Between the two meets, Elite provided over 11,250 splashes to the swimmers of New Jersey.  

            Even better, Elite swimmers once again ROCKED!!! 5 Elite swimmers won 6 Silver events-all in JO fashion! 16 swimmers added 27 JO cuts (team figures now stand at 57 individual qualifiers-most ever in 308 events-short of last year’s 346 with 11-12 Silver Bronze still to be held).  

            And for the 1^st time, Elite individual performances have qualified the team for all 10 Sectional Relays offered!!  

            Stunning performances this weekend by 17 year old Maggie Nelson and 17 year old Chelsea Allocco enabled the Elite ladies to add the last two remaining relays (the 4 x 100 free and the 4 x 200 free relays) and complete the relay sweep. Nelson and Allocco both turned in their impressive performances AFTER PERFORMING at the State High School Meet of Champions Meet on Saturday in south Jersey (more on that in blurb below regarding Strand & Co.).

8 & UNDERS FINISH STRONG AT MINI CHAMPS!!!

D. SORIANO WINS 6 & U 25 FREE;

E. IIZUKA PLACES 2^ND TWICE IN FLY;

P. CARCHIA, SORIANO & W. STEARNS PLACE 3^RD:

             Elite’s youngest swimmers emulated their elders this past weekend by swimming fabulously at their end of the season championships: New Jersey Swimming’s Mini-Championships 2010 held at Seton Hall University.  

            6 year old Dante Soriano dropped 1.5 seconds in his 25 free to win the Boys 6 & Under 25 yard free event in 20.52. Soriano followed up with a 3^rd place finish in the 25 yard free (26.52).  

            8 year old Erica Iizuka stroked to a pair of 2^nd place finishes, both in butterfly. Erica touched 2^nd in the 100 butterfly with a 10 & Under Silver qualifying time of 1.35.18 (a 19 second drop!!). Erica also placed 2^nd in the 50 fly with her 38.27 performance-also a Silver time. In the 100 IM, Erica collected her 3^rd medal by placing 6^th, in a Silver time of 1.28.39.

AND FOR AN ENCORE; ELITE PARENTS PROVIDE 8600 SPLASH OPPORTUNITIES FOR 1734 SWIMMERS!!!

            Once again, the Elite parents performed at a level approaching their swimmers in co-hosting New Jersey Swimming’s 13 & Older Silver Bronze Championship Meet at Rutgers University. The meet, which is the last chance for swimmers 13 & Older to qualify for the prestigious Junior Olympic Meet, provided 1734 New Jersey swimmers with 8600 splash opportunities.  

            Coordinating the meet was Carolyn Balbo, whose management skills and attention to details made the meet a fabulous success. A special thanks to the Session Coordinators: Debra Jones, Margie Lowe & Jodi Shepard. 

               And a special thanks to Moya Chew-Lai, the meet referee and all the Elite officials who worked the meet!!!

STRAND A STATE CHAMPION;

MANGO POSTS 1^ST SECTIONAL QUALIFYING TIME; WEINBROM ALSO ADDS SECTIONAL CUT & FINALS;  

            17 year old Michael Strand became the 2^nd Elite swimmer to become a high school State Champion. Strand won the 100 yard backstroke at the New Jersey Meet of Champions this past weekend in a stunning 50.03 time (career fastest!!). To win, Michael had to beat last year’s champion Luke Papendick of Mt. Lakes. Michael is a junior and represented Chatham High School.  

            Strand follows in the footsteps of former Elite standout Chris Dart, who also won the 100 yard backstoke as a junior and also represented Chatham High School. As a senior, Dart won both the 100 back and the 200 IM (both in meet state record times).  

            Demonstrating his versatility, Strand placed 2^nd in the 100 yard butterfly in 50.90 (also in a career fastest). Strand’s best times in the several other events would have placed him near the top of the competition.  

            Also performing spectacularly in individual events at this high school meet were:  

1)      Adam Weinbrom, who placed 10^th in the 100 back with a 53.70 and 15^th in the 100 butterfly (54.61)-both swims career bests. Adam's 100 fly time was his 3rd Sectional qualifying time.

2)      Alex Mango, who won the consolation heat in the 200 free in 1.46.21. This is Alex’s first Sectional qualifying time and puts Elite at 4 individual qualifiers. Alex also placed 11^th  with his 49.06 performance.

3)      Priya Duvvuri, who placed 17^th in the 100 back (1.01.03) & 25^th in the 100 fly (1.00.26)

4)      Venka Duvvuri who placed 24 in the 100 fly (54.52) 

NAMES OF TRAINING GROUPS TO CHANGE: MARLINS TO BECOME EXPLORERS, WAVEBUSTERS TO BECOME BELIEVERS, SENIORS NOT YET DECIDED UPON:  

          In an attempt to properly describe what a training group is all about and where the swimmer is within their personal development, Elite will be changing the names of their training groups this spring.

PICTURES FOR MEMORY BOOK AND SLIDE SHOW TO CHRISTY HARTIGAN;  

            There is still time to get great photos of your favorite swimmer in both the Memory Book, as provided by ESCPO and the Slide Show (to be presented at the Awards Dinner).

             Please get your electronic photos to Christy Hartigan asap. Christy’s email address is: CHARTIGAN1@OPTONLINE.NET.      

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 15^th annual Winter Swim Team Banquet!!! This year’s party will be held Sunday, April 11^th 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 8 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/Awards%20Dinner%20reservation%20form%202010.htm

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Elite Swim Club's affiliations:    New Jersey Swimming, Inc      USA Swimming