TOWSON, Md. - There are athletes who pour through every second of their practices and game performance, searching to unlock the mystery of their art towards a goal of total perfection.

And then there’s senior swimmer Cari Czarnecki, whose level of pre-race and post-race analysis is as basic as the three-step instructions on the back of a shampoo bottle: swim, win, repeat.

It’s not that Cazrnecki isn’t interested in getting better at her craft. Rather, it’s that there’s really no reason to apply too much thought into what has become nearly second nature in her life, namely jumping into a pool and swimming, more often or not to a first place finish.

For instance, when you ask Czarnecki, a native of Denver, Pa., to break down the components of the butterfly and the breaststroke, her two disciplines, she gives you the equivalent of a shrug.

“I don’t know about actual swimming,” said Czarnecki. “I really don’t know how it works. I was just taught to swim that way and I never asked why I had to do it or what it meant. It was like, ‘I’m going to do this or do that.’ I don’t know.”

Eventually, Czarnecki will say that the butterfly is her favorite stroke, but without a complicated explanation or rationale for its hold on her.

“I don’t have to think at all when I swim it (the butterfly),” said Czarnecki. “It just feels really natural and it comes easy to me.”

When you’ve had the success that Czarnecki has had, it’s probably a good thing not to over think things. After all, she holds school records in the 100-yard and 200-yard events in both the breaststroke and the butterfly as well as the 200-yard individual medley, all marks she set last year.

This season has meant more of the same as Czarnecki helped lead the Tigers to wins in their first five meets.

In a November meet against George Washington, Czarnecki won three events and led the relay team to a win. In one of those wins – the 200 butterfly – Czarnecki finished a remarkable six seconds ahead of the second place finisher.

According to Czarnecki, it’s a good thing that she has developed so well in the pool since she’s such a klutz on land.

“I trip over things all the time,” said Czarnecki, adding that she can’t really keep up with the rest of the team when they do exercise routines.

So, how exactly does someone who flops like a fish out of water swim like one in the pool? Again, don’t ask Czarnecki.

“It’s a natural talent type of thing,” said Czarnecki. “You either have a feel for the water or you don’t. It’s a weird sport.”

It’s one that Czarnecki was sort of born into as she followed her older brother into the pool as a child at her parents’ behest.

As her career continued and the wins piled up, Czarnecki has stayed away from letting pressure affect her. That approach extends to her leadership of the Tigers, which is decidedly low-key.

“I’m always there to keep a light atmosphere, to keep people happy and excited to swim,” said Czarnecki. “If you look at me (during a meet), I’m like dancing behind the blocks. Everyone’s really, really serious. I just really like to have fun.”

But, keeping it loose doesn’t have any bearing on outcome. Indeed, Czarnecki hopes sophomores Kaitlin Burke and Melanie Rowland, as well as freshman Victoria Oslund, will not only help this year’s team win the Colonial Athletic Association title for a fifth straight year, but will also lead the next generation of Tiger swimming dominance.

Just as long as they don’t over think things in the process.