Utah freshman gymnast Mary Beth Lofgren says she feels like she has grown up in the Huntsman Center since the Salt Lake native has watched so many meets.

Apparently, she must have soaked in some good tips while watching from the stands.

Lofgren, a product of Olympus Gymnastics, scored 9.825 on the vault, 9.725 on the balance beam and 9.675 on the floor to help No. 5 Utah upset UCLA 195.7-195.3 Friday at the Huntsman Center.

"I was living my dream out there," she said.

"I've been to so may meets, it was fun to be doing what I've been watching all these years."

Lofgren's mother, Deena, competed for BYU and was recruited by Utah coach Greg Marsden.

"She went to the other school," Marsden said.

She wears red now, according to Lofgren.

A first

Jacquelyn Johnson opened the meet for the Utes with a 9.75 on the vault. While the score was good, the fact that Johnson vaulted in a competition for the Utes was an even bigger deal.

The vault was the first for the senior in her collegiate career.

Johnson was never known as a strong vaulter before joining the Utes and wasn't expected to contribute in the event but worked hard in the offseason to increase her strength, Marsden said.

"We strength test everyone at the beginning of the season to see where they are, and she blew everybody away," he said. "No one else was close to her. That has helped her tumbling and made vault possible for her. She had trouble consistently getting over the vault, but to her credit, she has worked on her weakness hard and it's paying dividends now for her and us."

Makingan appearance

Freshman Victoria Shanley, who missed some of the preseason after being diagnosed with mononucleosis, was cleared this week to return to practice and vaulted in exhibition for the Utes.

The Utes hope she can compete next Saturday when Utah makes a road trip toGeorgia.

No go

UCLA's Brittani McCullough, the defending floor-exercise champion, didn't compete in the event Friday, as the Bruins elected to rest her for Sunday's meet.

All seven Pac-10 teams are competing Sunday in the first-ever Pac-10 Women's Gymnastics Showcase.

lwodraska@sltrib.comTwitter: @lyawodraska