Beth Wymer's parents made the most
of their bouncing baby girl

By Elisabeth Dalton

Fear of heights is not one of junior Beth Wymer's problems. She's more likely to encounter difficulties from thinking she can fly.

An All-American and Big 10 Gymnast of the Year, holder of U-M records for every individual event, Wymer says, "I like to be a daredevil and see how far I can go."

Being a daredevil got her the first perfect 10 on the vault in school and conference history when she led the women's team to the Big 10 championship in March. She has been ranked number one in the nation on the uneven bars for two years running, and is second nationally on the balance beam and floor exercise. At the NCAA championships in April, Wymer and her teammates earned a school record-breaking fourth place.

"We always knew we were one of the best teams," Wymer said after the squad compiled a 27-1 record, "but now we proved it to ourselves and to the country. I really believe we can finish first, second or third next year."

This has been a season Wymer trained for all her life. She started gymnastics when she was four. "My parents put me in gymnastics, actually," she said. "I had so much energy and was always bouncing around. I think I was kind of annoying. So they started me in gymnastics to burn off all that energy."

Following graduation from Sylvania High School in Toledo, Wymer decided to become a Wolverine after Coach Bev Plocki told her she could "be recognized for turning the gymnastics program around."

Five years ago, Plocki took over a team that had finished 2-19 and finished seventh in the Big 10 tourney. U-M's record the last three years has been 72-7, with three Big 10 titles in a row. At the year's Big 10's, every individual event was won by a Wolverine gymnast. Plocki was recently named Co-National Coach of the Year. The Wymer-driven turnaround was complete.

"What Beth has done for Michigan and the Big 10 Conference is unparalleled," Plocki said. "She is the most intense person I have ever met. As an athlete, she obsesses with perfection. She has all the awards, but is still very much a team player. She's like a Baptist minister or something, the way she gets everyone fired up."

Plocki said that although she'd "love to take 100 percent credit for myself," a lot of the team's success reflects "more support and encouragement from the administration. The attitude toward women's sports has really changed. Not too long ago women's teams felt like second-class citizens, so they trained like second-class citizens."

After she graduates next year, Wymer plans to continue with the sport in some way. She would like to coach someday, but "may just keep on training after school and see what comes." The Olympics are one thing that is coming.

Elisabeth Dalton '97 of Rochester, Michigan, worked in the NIS office during the past academic year.