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Tucson, Ariz. • Georgia Dabritz wasn't the only gymnast who was on another level in the Utes' 197.85-196.375 win over Arizona Saturday.
Freshman Kari Lee had season highs on all of her events, scoring 9.925 on the vault and balance beam and a 9.875 on the floor.
The performance likely was overshadowed by Dabritz to many, but not Utah's coaching staff.
"She is someone who could be a superstar for us," Utah coach Greg Marsden said. "She is still getting used to competing but she is just getting better and better."
Lee's performance came in front of her own huge cheering section as almost 60 people from her hometown of Peoria, Ariz., were in the stands.
She didn't disappoint them as she won the balance beam, was second on the vault and tied for fourth on the floor exercise.
"A lot of them watched me grow up so this was like a reward being able to perform in front of them," Lee said. "I had a lot of fun."
Lee came to Utah with a lot of expectation that she would help the Utes on balance beam.
She not only has met those expectations but has exceeded them with her performances on the vault and floor.
Out of the 10 routines in which she has performed this season, Lee has scored 9.8 or higher in all but one performance, earning a 9.775 on the floor at BYU in the Utes' season opener.
Great start
The Utes have had trouble getting going in their meets this year, but that wasn't the case on Saturday thanks to the 49.55 on the uneven bars. Marsden didn't attribute the change to anything in particular.
"We just had a good week of practice and it showed," he said. "We started strong and we were off and rolling."
Of note
Utah scored a season high on every event Saturday. … The Utes return home to host Arizona State on Friday at 6 p.m. … Arizona has never beaten the Utes (0-56).