Three nights a week, a few dozen swimmers take to the water in Carmichael Pool. Michael Phelps or Amanda Beard, they are not. Some are preparing for upcoming meets and others just want to shed holiday weight.

But Amy Kirkpatrick, a senior in biomedical engineering and the club’s president, said the beauty of the club is that it allows swimmers the option to be laid back.

Kirkpatrick or club vice president Patrick White writes the practice sets of each stroke up on a dry erase board and the swimmers branch off into their own lanes.

After, Kirkpatrick said, it’s up to the club members how they want to customize their workout.

“It’s like a template. Nothing is set in stone,” Kirkpatrick said. “You can change your practice however you want.”

Some swam year-round before coming to N.C. State at their high schools and with swimming clubs. Some are just getting down the basics. Regardless, Kirkpatrick said what sets the team aside is that it allows for plenty of “freedom.”

“Sometimes [members] come for the workout and others come to just hang out with their friends,” Kirkpatrick said. “There are some that swim non-stop for the entire practice and there are others that do sets, stop in between and have a conversation.”

White, a senior in chemistry, echoed those statements, saying the club caters to both the competitive and recreational swimmer.

“It’s a more laid-back kind of atmosphere where you can get out of it what you want to get out of it,” White said. “You can come to practice every day, swim hard and maybe add on some extra yards or you can take some time and learn a few things.”

However, some level of swimming knowledge is required for potential club members, as it doesn’t have a coach. They can try out a few practices for two weeks before club dues are required.

“We don’t really give any instruction, so anyone who doesn’t know how to swim isn’t going to gain a lot from our practices,” White said.

Interested swimmers are invited to take part in the meet the club is set to host Jan. 30 at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. Kirkpatrick said event decisions are left up to the meet host.

“Some meets have 25 meter swims of every stroke,” Kirkpatrick said. “A couple years ago, there was a distance meet where they had 400 IM and the mile. It all depends on the team hosting the meet and what they want to do. Duke occasionally hosts a meet where you only swim relays.”

White said State’s meet will feature “a standard mix” of events, including short distance swims and three different relays – one freestyle, one medley and “one kind of fun, silly relay,” which will consist of non-competitive strokes.

Beforehand, the team will likely hold one of its regular pasta dinners in order to load up on carbohydrates and build camaraderie.

“We like to get to know people outside of the pool and have a good time,” White said.