Stapleton: Cervone sinks the competition
Wednesday, December 12, 2007

By ART STAPLETON
RECORD COLUMNIST

DEMAREST -- Anne and Dave Cervone can't swim.

It's one of those great ironies, mind you, because no high school athlete from North Jersey has accomplished more in a pool over the past two seasons than their oldest daughter.

At 16, Tori Cervone already has set the standard by which her future success will be measured. She owns five team records in two years with the Demarest varsity, becoming the first girl in school history to win gold at the State Meet of Champions last winter.

The Record's North Jersey Swimmer of the Year as a freshman, Cervone began her junior season this week having finally embraced expectations brought about by her talent.

Even if it's a skill her parents are the only ones in the family still without.

"As a swimmer, you can't just make it about one day or one race," Tori Cervone said. "You've got to look at the big picture to appreciate everything as a whole."

That big picture could have been a completely different snapshot, considering Cervone has become a star in the sport she quit nearly a decade ago.

It's hard for Cervone to imagine being anywhere but the pool nowadays, so much of her time is spent focusing on goals attached to her pursuit of perfection in the water.

"She quit lessons that first time and wanted to quit a second time, but that season was paid for," Anne Cervone said. "We told her she had to wait until the end of the year, and by [the time] the end of that year came, [the idea of quitting] never came up again.

"Things have a way of working out for all of us, I guess."

Had Tori Cervone never returned deckside after leaving her first lesson at the age of 6, the athletic destiny of her entire family might have been altered.

Instead of marching to her own beat, she stuck with swimming, ultimately blazing a trail for her five younger siblings, all of whom have followed in her wake.

Alisha, 15, is a sophomore and a teammate at Demarest. She's also the Bergen County champion in two events. The rest of the children have yet to reach the varsity level: Erin, 14; Ryan, 12; Sarah, 10; and Gabrielle, 7.

In some ways, the rest of the Cervone children are much like Tori's competition:

Passionate about chasing her, hoping one day they finally catch up.

"Being the oldest I guess they all look up to me," Tori Cervone said.

"I'm sure some of them think about doing everything that she's been able to do," her mother added. "With what she's done so far, how could you not."

And it's quite a commitment Cervone has made to get to this point.

Just take what she put herself through Monday.

She left her Closter home at 4:30 a.m. and 45 minutes later was in the pool for practice with her club team, the New Jersey Wave, at Bergen Community College in Paramus.

Out of the pool and on the road again at 7 a.m., she was back in Demarest a half-hour later for homeroom before making another round-trip trek -- after a full day of school -- for another early evening practice with her club team.

That round of practice ended around 6, leaving Cervone enough time to head to the Wyckoff YMCA for Demarest's first meet of the season against Northern Highlands.

"Then she was up until midnight doing homework," Anne Cervone said. "She's really had to learn how to maintain a regimented schedule, she's worked hard.

"The difference now is that I think she's starting to get that confidence."

Cervone holds Bergen County records in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly, the same races she won at the State Meet of Champions as a sophomore.

"Last year she was State champion in two different events and she wasn't far away from the State record in both events," Demarest coach Mike Ives said. "Possibly to see her make a run at both of those titles again, defend her titles and make a run at the State record would be great goals for her. We're not only her teammates, but we're all fans."

No one expects more from her than Cervone herself, however.

"Swimming at the club level, you're racing the clock, trying to always better your time," Tori Cervone said. "In high school, you're always swimming to win."

Judging by the results so far, Cervone certainly has found a way to excel at doing both.

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ATHLETE'S BIO

Sport: Swimming

Class: Junior

Age: 16

Accomplishment: Ed Ostrovsky set school records of 103.15 in the 100 butterfly and 104.43 in the 100 backstroke and was part of two winning relay teams in a win over Garfield.

By MARK J. CZERWINSKI
STAFF WRITER

Ed Ostrovsky learned quickly that there's a big difference in his high school in Jerusalem compared to Fair Lawn.

"The main difference is that in my high school [in Israel], there were about 400 students," said Ostrovsky, a junior who earned The Record's Male Athlete of the Week honor after setting school records in the 100 butterfly and backstroke. "The way we study is also different. In Israel, every day there's a different subject."

And North Jersey students might cringe at this one, but one of the biggest differences is that classes in Jerusalem run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"It's not a hard transition," Ostrovsky said. "I adjusted pretty fast."

There are no high school swim teams in Israel. Ostrovsky swam for a club team, and when he left for the United States last summer, he was third in his age group overall in all of Israel.

Ostrovsky began swimming when he was 9 years old because his parents wanted him to take up a sport that would build up his endurance. Ostrovsky also has studied tae kwon do and has played chess for 10 years.

"Jerusalem is so beautiful," Ostrovsky said. "The city is not too big, but there are so many places to visit. The history of thousands of years is there.

"My main problem is that I miss my friends. I miss the place. I miss the environment and I don't know when I can go back for a visit."

Ostrovsky's father just recently came to Fair Lawn, so Ostrovsky had to rely on a lot of outside help to get his high school swimming career off the ground. He's very impressed and grateful for all the kindness he was shown.

"Neighbors. Friends. People from swimming," Ostrovsky said. "They helped me a lot, and they are still helping."

Also nominated: Mike DiNapoli of Bergen Catholic, Brian Friedlander of River Dell/New Milford and Derek Hursch of Paramus Catholic for swimming; and Kyle Jacobsen of Hawthorne for bowling.

E-mail: czerwinski@northjersey.com

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THE RECORD 

Female athlete of the week 

Tuesday, March 13, 2007 

By MARK J. CZERWINSKI STAFF WRITER 

Tori Cervone's swimming career didn't exactly get off to a rousing start. 

Cervone's mother wanted her 6-year-old daughter to learn how to swim, so she signed her up for some lessons. It wasn't, however, what you'd call love at first splash. 

"Actually, I quit," said Cervone, a Demarest sophomore who earned The Record's Female Athlete of the Week honor after winning the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly at the State individual swimming Meet of Champions. 

Cervone did come back six months later, but she and her younger sister, Alisha -- a Demarest freshman who stuck with her swimming lessons -- didn't make the first team they tried out for together. 

"It wasn't really discouraging," said Cervone, who is Demarest's first State swimming champion and the first Bergen County girl to win a race at the Meet of Champions since 1998. "That's because I was also doing other sports at the time, which I was awful at." 

Athlete's bio Sport: Swimming 

Class: Sophomore Age: 16 

Accomplishment: Tori Cervone won the 200 IM and 100 butterfly at the Meet of Champions. 

She is Demarest's first State swimming champion and the first Bergen County girl to win at the meet since 1998. 

That's one of those stories that can become a legend in Bergen County swimming circles if Cervone keeps up the pace she set in her first two high school seasons. Cervone also has become a mainstay for the New Jersey Wave, practicing up to eight times a week. 

And she has plenty of company because all five of her younger siblings also are swimmers.

"I enjoy working hard," Cervone said. "It's fulfilling." 

It's too soon for Cervone to be thinking about college, but geography is going to play a big part in any decision. 

"I want to go someplace where it's warm," Cervone said. "I don't like the cold." 

Outside the pool, Cervone said she "really likes to shop." She also enjoys studying English, even though there are a lot of writing assignments on her schedule. 

"When I have the time, I can write well," Cervone said. "I like writing." 

Also nominated: Shadasia Green of Eastside and Kristen Barry of River Dell for basketball and Cristina Law of Ridgewood for track. 

E-mail: czerwinski@northjersey.com 

Copyright © 2007 North Jersey Media Group Inc.

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Posted 03/05/07        

Cervone takes 200 IM, 100 butterfly

Victoria Cervone of Demarest had a lot to block out of her mind.

There was last season's narrow loss to Emily Creran of Haddonfield, who bumped Cervone to third place in the 200-yard individual medley, and the deep, talented field in the 100 butterfly -- not to mention her own insecurities.

"I knew that I got touched out last year but I tried not to think about it," Cervone said. "There were a lot of fast girls in both races. In the butterfly, the girl next to me was wearing a full-body Fastskin, which was intimidating. I knew it was going to be close. I was just hoping for top three."

Cervone surprised herself, and the field, by surviving a close battle with Creran to win her first title in the 200 IM, and then added a decisive victory in the 100 butterfly yesterday at the NJSIAA/Riegel Printing Meet of Champions at Gloucester County Institute of Technology in Sewell.

Cervone, a sophomore, became the first state champion in school history and just the second Bergen County swimmer to win two events at the Meet of Champions, joining Valerie Zammitti of Paramus, who won the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle in 1995.

"I'm just in a state of disbelief," Cervone said. "I never expected to come down here and win two races. It definitely hasn't sunk in yet."

In the 200 IM, Cervone opened a lead of 1.07 seconds after the butterfly and backstroke legs, but Creran knifed into the deficit during the breaststroke, pulling to within .36 seconds with just 50 yards of freestyle left. Cervone held onto her advantage and touched first in 2:05.12. Creran was second in 2:05.57.

"I saw how close she was on the pullout from breaststroke," Cervone said. "I just told myself to work the walls at the end."

In the 100 butterfly, Cervone had to come from behind as Jill Smaniotto of Millville opened a slight lead after the first 50. But Cervone was too strong down the stretch and touched first in 56.71, nearly a second in front of runner-up Andrea Criscuolo of Point Pleasant Beach and Smaniotto.

"I was a lot more relaxed after the IM because that was the race I was most worried about," Cervone said. "I went 58 (Saturday) and I knew I was better than that. My second 50 is usually strong. I just picked it up down the stretch."

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Posted 01/15/07                              

Dear NJW parents,

We at Nike would like to extend to you our most sincere welcome!  Becoming part of a Nike team offers you and your family incentives and benefits you won’t find with any other company.

We carry all kinds of swim equipment through Swim New Jersey.  If there is something you don’t see, ask!  We have a great line of apparel and swim suits, and we stand behind our technology.  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Swim New Jersey or our Nike Swim Promotions Department.

Nike and Swim New Jersey have promised to support your team, and we ask that you support us too, by purchasing Nike Swim products through Swim New Jersey. 

We look forward to a long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationship with you and with your team.

If you have any questions or concerns about our suits or you think there is anything we can help you with, please don’t hesitate to call the Nike Swim Promotions Department through BJ or Roque (numbers below).

Thank you, and welcome to the Nike Swim family!

Sincerely,

B.J. Bedford Miller – Nike Swim Grassroots Field Representative
Barbara.miller@pery.com  (970) 482-3192

Andreas Roestenberg – CEO of Swim New Jersey
andreas@h2ovelocity.com

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Posted 11/24/06

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Posted 10/07/06

October 6, 2006

Dear NJ Wave Membership:

I am pleased to announce the addition of a new satellite  program to our team.  The Lakeland Family Swim program and NJ Wave have decided to join forces in a mutually beneficial relationship.  The Lakeland Family Swim program is a new USS team that formed last year and will become part of the New Jersey Wave program.  The group is comprised mainly of 13 & over swimmers from the Ringwood-Haskell-Wanaque area in Passaic County (i.e. Lakeland High School).

Laura Grady founded the Lakeland Family program.  Laura and I have been hard at work in setting up the program for this current short course season.  The agreement is that the Lakeland Family group will be part of the NJ Wave program and that we would staff, provide additional structure, and help run the program under its philosophy.  The program will be known as the “NJ Wave - Lakeland Family Group” and will compete as “NJ Wave.”  Our current members will benefit from having access to an additional brand new swimming facility.

Recently, our team had lost some pool space (although not pool time) at one of our facilities, the Garfield Boys Club.  The new joint venture with the Lakeland Family program not only helps us to make up for that loss but benefits several groups on our team with increased pool time and space.

The groups positively affected by this arrangement will be Senior Prep, Senior Advanced and Senior 3.  Each group will use the new facility one night a week on different nights.  This new facility is located at Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI) in Wayne.  It is literally no more than a 10 minute additional commute beyond the Garfield Boys Club and takes 21 minutes to reach from Bergen Community College.  Without this addition, we would have to downsize our team; so we are fortunate to have been able to make this arrangement.

The PCTI pool is a brand new 6-lane 25yd facility with lots of lighting and plenty of deck space.  The facility is beautiful.  It can be viewed at the following web address: http://www.lauragrady.com/LakelandSwimSite/HTML/lakelandswimfamilynoplacelikehome.html

More information about the Lakeland Swim Family group can be found on their website which will soon be linked to the NJ Wave website:

http://www.lauragrady.com/LakelandSwimSite/HTML/index.html

I am attaching a copy of the new practice schedule (beginning 11/15/06) to this e-mail as well as directions to the facility.  Please contact me directly at coachkeno@aol.com mailto:coachkeno@aol.com with any questions or concerns.  It is better to speak to me at this point even before your respective coaches.

Laura has been great to work with and we’re looking forward to the continual growth of this exciting new relationship.  You will meet the Lakeland Family swimmers at the Red / Black Intersquad meet on 10/21/06.  Please welcome them as part of our NJ Wave family.

Sincerely,
Ken O’Reilly
NJ Wave Swimming

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Posted 10/03/06

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Posted 10/18/05

NEWS:

Congratulations to USA Swimming Scholastic All American Team Members:
Seven NJ Wave Swimmers made the USS Scholastic All American List New Jersey Wave: 
Kathleen Heslin, Meagan Heslin, Amelia Rivera, Kyle McElroy, Daniel Fimbianti, Christopher Fitzpatrick and John Passaro

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2005 SHORT COURSE - END OF SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

REGION I - SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
(14 Swimmers - largest in recent years):
Kyle McElroy, Sara Fracapane, Kimberly Bouton, Victoria Cervone, Bryeanne Ravettine, Dan Fimbianti, Chris Fitzpatrick, Catherine Zagroba, Meagan Heslin, Kathleen Heslin, Jullian McKean, John Passaro, Regina Romain, and Amelia Rivera.

REGION I - SECTIONAL CHAMPION
Kyle McElroy: 200 Brst: 2:05.88 (1st Place)

SECTIONAL SWIMMERS PLACING IN TOP 24:
Sara Fracapane: 17th - 1650 Free / 24th - 800 Fr Relay / 23rd - 400 Med Relay

Kyle McElroy: 8th - 100 Breast / 1st - 200 Breast / 11th - 400 IM / 14th - 800 Fr Relay / 11th - 200 IM / 7th - 400 Med Relay.

Victoria Cervone: 12th - 100 Fly / 23rd - 400 IM / 24th - 800 Fr Relay / 20th - 200 Back / 23rd - 400 Med Relay.

Kimberly Bouton: 21st - 400 IM / 24th - 800 Fr Relay / 19th - 200 Fly / 23rd - 200 IM / 23rd - 400 Med Relay.

Catherine Zagroba: 24th - 800 Fr Relay Chris Fitzpatrick: 14th - 800 Fr Relay / 19th - 200 IM / 7th - 400 Med Relay

Jullian McKean: 14th - 800 Fr Relay / 7th - 400 Med Relay

Dan Fimbianti: 14th - 800 Fr Relay / 6th - 100 Back / 4th - 200 Back / 15th - 200 IM / 7th - 400 Med Relay.

Amelia Rivera: 23rd - 400 Med Relay.

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NJ JUNIOR OLYMPICS - 2005 HIGHLIGHTS -
NJ WAVE FINISHED 2ND OVERALL!

EVENT WINNERS INCLUDED:
Danielle Romain (11&12 Girls) - 200 Backstroke - 2:14.19

Victoria Cervone (13&14 Girls) - 100 Butterfly - :57.91 / 200 Butterfly - 2:06.36

Dan Fimbianti (15-19 Boys) - 200 Freestyle - 1:44.28 / 100 Backstroke - :52.59 / 200 Backstroke 1:49.82 / 400 Medley Relay (Bk-:51.67) - 3:33.43

Kyle McElroy (15-19 Boys) - 200 IM - 1:55.53 / 200 Breaststroke - 2:07.58 / 400 Medley Relay - (Brst-:59.35) - 3:33.43

Chris Fitzpatrick (15-19 Boys) - 400 Medley Relay - (Fly-:53.84) - 3:33.43

Jullian McKean (15-19 Boys) - 400 Medley Relay - (Free-:48.57) - 3:33.43

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GIRLS PLACING TOP 16 IN INDIVIDUAL EVENTS AND/OR RELAYS:
11&12: Alisha Cervone / Danielle Romain / Corinna Bertelsen / Jade Hursch

13&14: Victoria Cervone / Catherine Zagroba / Courtney Day / Bryeanne Ravettine / Elayna Bray / Christy Bertelsen

15&over: Sara Fracapane / Meagan Heslin / Amelia Rivera / Kim Bouton / Allison Smith / Caitlin Bertelsen / Lauren Chin-Burrous / Regina Romain / Kathleen Heslin

BOYS PLACING TOP 16 IN INDIVIDUAL EVENTS AND/OR RELAYS:
10&under: Andrew Neggia / Bobby Hilzen / Edward Lee / Greg Spiropoulos

11&12: Matthew Hart / David Arnold / Gianni Grippo / Marcus Lee / Parker Huguley / Trevor Leland

13&14: Joe Conti / Steven Shikhel

15&over: Dan Fimbianti / Chris Fitzpatrick / Kyle McElroy / Jullian McKean / John Passaro / Jeremy Soto / Jake Lam

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EIGHT SWIMS MADE THE ALL TIME NJ WAVE SC TOP 10 LIST (btwn Sectionals & JO's):
Dan Fimbianti: 100 Back: 51.67-[relay lead-off] (3rd All Time-Men's NJW Short Course)

Dan Fimbianti: 200 Back: 1:49.82 (2nd All Time-Men's NJW Short Course)

Kyle McElroy: 400 IM: 4:03.86 (7th All Time-Men's NJW Short Course)

Kyle McElroy: 200 Breast: 2:05.88 (5th All Time-Men's NJW Short Course)

Victoria Cervone: 50 Free: :24.62 (4th All Time-Women's NJW Short Course)

Victoria Cervone: 100 Fly: :57.91 (7th All Time-Women's NJW Short Course)

Bryeanne Ravettine: 100 Free: :53.31 (7th All Time-Women's NJW Short Course)

Kimberly Bouton: 200 Fly: 2:05.78 (10th All Time-Women's NJW Short Course)

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NEW SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TIME STANDARDS ACHIEVED (btwn Sectionals & JO's):
Catherine Zagroba: 500 Free: 5:07.20 - Women's Sectional Cut - (SC/LC)

Catherine Zagroba: 1650 Free: 18:00.03 - Women's Sectional Cut - (LC-only)

Chris Fitzpatrick: 200 Butterfly: 2:00.91 - Men's Sectional Cut - (SC/LC)

Chris Fitzpatrick: 100 Butterfly: :53.95 - Men's Sectional Cut - (SC-only)

Kimberly Bouton: 200 IM: 2:10.35 - Women's Sectional Cut - (SC/LC)

Allison Smith: 200 Free: 1:55.42 - Women's Sectional Cut - (SC/LC)

Allison Smith: 500 Free: 5:09.61 - Women's Sectional Cut - (SC-only)

Allison Smith: 1000 Free: 10:39.90 - Women's Sectional Cut - (SC/LC)

Caitlin Bertelsen: 200 Free: 1:57.23 - Women's Sectional Cut - (SC-only)

Caitlin Bertelsen: 200 Fly: 2:13.42 - Women's Sectional Cut - (SC-only)

Sara Fracapane: 200 Fly: 2:13.38 - Women's Sectional Cut - (SC-only)

Dan Fimbianti: 400 IM: 4:11.41 - Men's Sectional Cut - (SC/LC)

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NEW SUMMER JUNIOR NATIONAL TIME STANDARDS ACHIEVED (between Sectionals & JO's):

Dan Fimbianti: 200 Backstroke: 1:49.82 - Summer
Junior Nationals

Dan Fimbianti: 400 Medley Relay (Bk-:51.67) - 3:33.43 - Summer Junior Nationals

Kyle McElroy: 200 Breaststroke: 2:05.88 - Summer Junior Nationals

Kyle McElroy: 400 Medley Relay - (Brst-:59.35) - 3:33.43 - Summer Junior Nationals

Chris Fitzpatrick: 400 Medley Relay - (Fly-:53.84) - 3:33.43 - Summer Junior Nationals

Jullian McKean: 400 Medley Relay - (Free-:48.57) - 3:33.43 - Summer Junior Nationals

NEW US OPEN TIME STANDARDS ACHIEVED:
Dan Fimbianti: 200 Backstroke: 1:49.82 - US OPEN CUT.

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