Who is currently the most dominant Big Ten athlete? Not Purdue basketball's Glenn Robinson, it is Michigan gymnast Beth Wymer. No Big Ten athlete dominates their sport the way she does. Listen to the critics:

"Wymer is (Michigan's) strength -- she's awesome," Lady Lion Coach Steve Shephard said. "She's beautiful to watch."

"Beth Wymer is great," Minnesota Coach Jim Stephenson said."

"She's a very talented athlete," Illinois Coach Lynn Crane said. "Number one in the country."

What is it about this 5-foot-3 junior that has opposing coaches talking like she has St. Peter's keys to Heaven? The modest Wymer won't tell.

"(Michigan's) major strength is that our team is really together," Wymer said. "Half my strength comes from my teammates . . . We really motivate each other."

No, Wymer is not the type to go on about her accomplishments. But the 21-year-old Toledo, Ohio, native does not have to -- her record speaks for itself.

For starters, in 1992, freshman Wymer led Michigan to its first Big Ten title in 10 years. She won the all-around with a meet-record 39. For her efforts, Wymer was named Big Ten gymnast of the year and Big Ten freshman of the year.

As a sophomore, Wymer led Michigan to its second Big Ten title and meet-record (192.925) in as many years. She also broke her own meet-record all-around score with a 39.45.

Curiously, the lords of the conference did not name Wymer Big Ten gymnast of the year, that went to Penn State's Allison Barber. Something the ever-humble Wymer said did not bother her, "Team success is important to me."

So what was left for Wymer this season? How about heading into the Big Ten Championship as the No. 1 ranked gymnast in the country.

Wymer, a communications major, is a certified college gymnastics great. And she is expected to lead Michigan to its third consecutive Big Ten title Saturday night, when the Blue and Maize take to the mats to fight for conference bragging rights.

No. 3 Michigan (194.525 average, 195.35 high) is the prohibitive favorite, and Wymer is the main reason why. It's a role she is used to, she has been in the gymnastics spotlight for a while.

In high school, Wymer competed at the "Elite" level -- the level from which Olympic and national team members are selected. Wymer qualified for the USA Championships her first three years of high school (a back injury kept her out as a senior), and narrowly missed qualifying for the 1988 Olympic tryouts.

Wymer said her favorite event is the uneven bars. And it should be -- she is No. 1 nationally in the event and averages an unconscious 9.969. Wymer is also No. 1 beam (9.912), No. 2 on floor (9.95) and No. 11 on vault (9.85). Add it up and you get a 39.544 all-around average that puts her comfortably ahead of the rest of the nation.

As far as predictions go, Wymer's style is not to make any. All Michigan Coach Beverly Plocki would say is that her team is "having a strong year" and that they have no significant injuries.

And if Wymer and her teammates do what they are capable of Saturday night, the only ones hurting will be the other teams in the Big Ten.