College can be a difficult transition for most out-of-state students, so senior swimmer Amaila Sarnecki tries to make her teammates from outside of the Dairy State feel right at home in Madison.

"I'm very domestic, she said. "It just comes natural."

Sarnecki's recent adventures in domestic life have ranged from a Chinese New Year feast for homesick Malaysian native Yi Ting Siow, to earring making, knitting and baking desserts on a weekly basis for her four roommates.

"She just takes everyone under her wing," teammate Andrea Wiesner said. "She also likes to make dinner for us."

With Betty Crocker ambitions and the heart of a mother, Sarnecki has been a positive role model for many members of the Wisconsin swim team.

"I think that she is a wonderful person," Wiesner said. "She is an amazing swimmer and really good role model for all the younger girls on the team. She is just a really important part of the team."

"She is always very happy and is a great friend whenever you need one," teammate Hannah McClurg said. "She has always been someone to look up too."

Being a positive influence on the swim team has come naturally to Sarnecki. Though she knows how to take care of her teammates outside the pool, Sarnecki also knows how stir up a recipe for success in the pool.

Just recently, Sarnecki picked up her second and third Big Ten title in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard individual medley at the 2006 Big Ten Championships.

"She is always working hard, I've always thought of her as being one of the most talented on the team," McClurg said.

Breaststroke has always come effortlessly to Sarnecki. In high school she won two state titles in the 100-yard breaststroke. Her talents in the stroke attracted the likes of Wisconsin coaches and since arriving on campus, the Ann Arbor, Mich., native has served as UW's primary breaststroker.

Serving as the go-to breaststroker is not an easy task for any swimmer, and Sarnecki still appreciates each opportunity she gets to compete it on relays.

"It's been exciting," she said. "Breaststroke is my favorite event and I loving competing it on the relays … When you are on a relay, you have the whole team behind you and you are now apart of something.

"You get picked for the relays by our coaches because they have confidence in you," she added. "You also have three other people that want you to be successful, so they can be successful as well."

Lately, Sarnecki's natural talents have helped her land two new relay positions on the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays.

"She has proven to be one of our top sprint freestylers," UW assistant coach Kari Woodall said. "We have used her a lot of different ways. She is the type of girl who can swim any different type of race well."

Now heading into her final college meet at the NCAA Championships, Sarnecki hopes to continue to serve as the Badger breaststroker on relays and score a few individual laurels of her own.

"My biggest goal is for our relays to do really well," Sarnecki said. "I want at least both medley relays to be All-American; I think that is the biggest goal. I would also like to break some more team records. I think we all have a little bit more that we can give."

This Championship, Sarnecki's best event (the 200-yard breaststroke) will also be her last individual event. Last year, she earned her first All-American accolade in that event by claiming eighth at the 2005 NCAA Championships.

"Individually, I'm just going to enjoy myself because it's going to be my last meet," Sarnecki added. "I would also like to be All-American in both breaststrokes."

In past two NCAA Championships, Sarnecki has been able to place in the top-16 in both breaststroke events.

Heading into her last college race, Sarnecki simply wants to enjoy the moment.

"Four years goes really quick," she added. "A lot of people might not have enjoyed it has much as I have. I'm excited for it to be over, but I'm scared of what is going to happen after it … I've been really lucky."