When Michigan announced last year that its men's gymnastics program was going to be cut, it sent a shockwave through collegiate men's gymnastics.

Although many gymnasts knew that cutbacks were on the horizon, no one thought Goliath would go first.

"I was really upset because I knew gymnastics was in trouble on that scale," Michigan junior Cory Huttenga said. "But I never thought that Michigan would be the first to fall."

Without a program, many people would think the Wolverines would be leaving the pack. But Michigan gymnasts may not be have an opportunity to go anywhere, largely because the NCAA only allowed seven scholarships per team this year.

Gymnastics is having sponsorship problems on a large scale, said Rich Lucas, Penn State assistant athletic director.

Several gymnastics programs, including Washington, are not capable of out-of-state recruiting because they receive little or no money from their respective universities. Although Washington lost varsity status, it has maintained a men's gymnastics club.

"All the University has to do is provide a space for us to practice and compete," said Mark Russo, Washington's men's gymnastics coach. "Our team has fundraisers. We usher football games and basketball games."

Even if other schools would recruit Wolverine gymnasts, not all of the men from Michigan want to leave.

"Only one (gymnast) wants to transfer and what that shows is that our athletes, like athletes at many institutions in the Big Ten, are at Michigan to get an education," Michigan Coach Bob Darden said.

Although Michigan had to plead for a one-season extension and was given no funding for recruiting, the program still drew freshmen.

"We still came up with four great freshmen," junior co-captain Rich Dopp said. "We have a lot of room for improvement. In the gym we can't do anything about the following year."

If the glass slipper doesn't fit when Michigan's time runs out, the Wolverines are going to put on a different shoe.

"I would like to continue gymnastics," Michigan freshman Jason MacDonald said, "if we can do it through a club like University of Washington."