In the Las Vegas Sports Center, where the small arena holds just a few thousand people, gymnasts on the competition floor look for their parents in the stands and wave. Some climb up the arena's walls to hug and chat with old friends.

Two women, who very well might have sons in the competition, watch over the entrance and sell T-shirts and other paraphernalia. Press passes, handed out by the moms, are really just names scribbled on cardstock that fits into plastic cases affixed with pins.

It doesn't seem like the type of atmosphere that should accompany a high-stakes competition featuring the nation's best athletes. But despite its comfortable informality, the Winter Cup is one of the most important meets each year for USA Gymnastics.

And eight Wolverines, including alumnus Eddie Umphrey, will compete today with hopes of advancing to Saturday’s finals. On Saturday, the Men's Program Committee will select new members of the U.S. Senior National Team from this year’s crop of Winter Cup hopefuls to represent their country in international meets, like the World Championships in London this October.

In today’s afternoon session, senior co-captain Phil Goldberg, fifth-year senior Paul Woodward, senior Ryan McCarthy and junior Mel Santander will compete, starting on the rings. Senior Ralph Rosso, sophomores Thomas Kelley and Chris Cameron and Umphrey begin on the pommel horse in the evening session.

They’ll face stiff competition not only from the best gymnasts in the NCAA, but from 2008 Olympians like Jonathan Horton and Joey Hagerty.

But Kelley said that there’s little pressure on young gymnasts like himself and his teammates.

“There’s nothing on the line that’s yours to lose,” Kelley said. “It’s yours to gain.”

To Kelley and several of his teammates, a winter trip to Sin City has become routine. As junior-level gymnasts, many of them participated in the Blackjack Invitational, a competition held in conjunction with Winter Cup. Kelley hasn’t missed a Winter Cup since his junior year of high school.

But for Woodward, McCarthy and Goldberg, this is their first time at the crucial meet. McCarthy qualified once before as a junior in high school, but injuries sustained in a car accident that season prevented him from competing, and he’s especially excited to make it, finally, to Vegas.

For gymnasts accustomed to competing in the loud, raucous atmosphere of NCAA meets, Winter Cup can be a bit lonely. Instead of 20 teammates cheering each competitor on, there are usually just two or three. That won’t be the case this year, with the Wolverines forming one of the meet’s largest contingents. Only Illinois, with nine competitors, has more, though Ohio State and Stanford each tie Michigan with eight.

No one expects the Wolverines to challenge for spots on the national team, but having eight competitors at such a high-profile meet is a chance for Michigan to gain more positive national exposure.

“It’s really an awesome place for Michigan to show the USA Gymnastics community that we’re good competitors and good gymnasts,” Kelley said. “It just builds up our reputation among younger athletes if they see eight of us out there. They’re like, ‘Wow, Michigan’s got some good guys.’ ”

Michigan wants to show the national gymnastics community what it can do, and there is no better place than the Winter Cup.

“You’re wearing that block M with pride when you’re at Winter Cup because you’re … representing Michigan in a different light,” Kelley said.