Michigan's Wymer a standout gymnast

By GEOFFREY MOSHER
Collegian Sports Writer

The Big Ten has produced some of America's most intense athletes: basketball standouts Magic Johnson, Chris Webber and Isiah Thomas, and football standout Andre Rison. The most intense athletes in the Big Ten this year include Lion tailback Ki-Jana Carter, Michigan State guard Shawn Respert and Michigan running back Tyrone Wheatley.

But Michigan gymnast Beth Wymer may top them all. Just ask the critics:

-- "She's one of the top gymnasts in the country," Lady Lion Coach Steve Shephard said. "If not the best."

-- Said Michigan Coach Bev Plocki: "I've never worked with anyone quite as intense as she is. She puts 100 percent in every move she makes."

The No. 4 Wolverines (18-2) will be the favorites in the Big Ten championships at 7 p.m. tomorrow in Champaign, Ill., and Wymer plans to bring that intensity with her.

"The Big Tens are always an exciting meet," she said. "Hopefully, everyone will do well."

As for all of the intensity -- the modest senior won't tell.

"Being the top gymnast is not my No. 1 concern," the 22-year-old Toledo, Ohio, native said. "Whatever happens with the score just helps the team out."

Wymer's intensity has Plocki elated -- and a little concerned.

"She is just a very hard working, intense, motivated type of athlete," Plocki said. "She puts higher standards on herself -- she needs to give herself a break."

Wymer is the NCAA uneven bars champion and a first-team All-American on bars and balance beam. She is also a second-team All-American on the vault and floor exercise and holds Michigan records for the top score in every individual event.

"All of my hard work is finally paying off," Wymer said. "It's good to be where you want to be."

Last year at the Big Ten championships, Wymer became the first gymnast to score a perfect 10.0 in any event at the championships. She scored the 10.0 on what she considered her weakest event -- the vault. Wymer won individual titles in the all-around, floor, bars and vault and set a new Big Ten championship record on floor (9.9).

"(Scoring a 10.0) was really exciting," she said. "This year, I'm not worried about my score. I'm just looking to hit on all events."

Consistency is something Wymer and the Wolverines have perfected, winning the past three Big Ten championships. Michigan beat Penn State in each of those championships by less than a point, starting an exciting rivalry.

This year, the No. 9 Lady Lions (12-11) have suffered some injuries, but they continue to keep their heads up, looking forward to the Big Ten championships. Their main concerns are clean routines and consistency.

"(Injuries) are an obstacle that we're going to overcome," senior tri-captain Karen Cimochowski said. "Everyone has to do their job and make sure they get all their cues --every performance counts"

The Lady Lions will be able to compete with a full roster in each event, but two senior tri-captains --Tracy Kerner and Kerry Slattery --will only be competing in one event each.

Kerner, who usually competes on bars, beam and vault, and Slattery, who has been an all-arounder, will only compete on bars. Despite the injuries, the team will still be motivated, Cimochowski said.

"All of us lead the team regardless of injuries," Cimochowski said."I just have to hit my routines for the team and keep the mood up."

Although the Lady Lions want to perform well at Big Tens, they are looking forward to being at full strength for the NCAA Northeast Regional Finals on April 8 and the NCAA championships on April 22.

"Our focus has to be on regionals and nationals," Shephard said. "Big Tens is just a feather in your cap. To us, national championships is more important than Big Tens."