When No. 5 Utah competes in the Huntsman Center, it is used to performing in front of 14,000-plus fans. A good number of those are elementary-aged gymnasts who have dreams and ambitions of one day becoming a Red Rock.
Two of Utah’s seniors — Mary Beth Lofgren and Hailee Hansen — were once two of those children who attended Red Rocks meets with hopes of one day cracking the lineup for Greg and Megan Marsden. Now they’re on the cusp of their final collegiate meet this weekend at nationals.
“It’s always been a dream of mine,” Lofgren said. “I grew up watching them, so to be able to compete here is definitely a dream come true.”
Because of the prestigious reputation the Marsdens have built at Utah over the past 40 years, they are able to recruit all over the nation and even the world. Because the state of Utah isn’t a gymnastics powerhouse, it has been rare for locals to compete for the Red Rocks over the years. To have two at the same time has been a special experience for both Lofgren and Hansen.
“It’s really cool for us,” Hansen said. “Utah doesn’t produce many gymnasts like that. Honestly, I never imagined myself here, so this whole time, it’s been so amazing for me. It’s really cool that I’ve been able to share it with [Lofgren], and we’re the same year. It’s been really fun, and it doesn’t happen too often.”
Co-head coach Megan Marsden said this is not the first time the Utah program has received talent from Lofgren’s home gym of Olympus Gymnastics. She said Mary Wright, Olympus’ head coach and owner, has done a good job of preparing gymnasts to compete at the standard of the Red Rocks.
For Hansen, who attended USA Gymnastics World gym in Woods Cross, it was a rather different story. The walk-on co-captain was the top dog at her home gym, being the only one to reach Level 10 in many years. When she committed to Utah, it was one of the biggest signings in her gym’s history.
Despite the different paths each has taken, both Hansen and Lofgren were Red Rocks in a sense long before they signed a Letter of Intent.
“I think the fans love to have one of their own out there,” Marsden said. “I think these girls, because they [grew] up in this area, have kind of the heart and soul of being a Ute.”
The 2014 campaign has been a special one for Hansen, Lofgren and the other Red Rocks. This year’s team was the first to win a Pac-12 Championship, and the locals have been instrumental in the accomplishments of this year’s team.
“I think it matters to all the girls, but especially to [Hansen and Lofgren], it matters to leave a legacy,” Marsden said. “They’ve watched so many gymnasts before them do that and I think it’s really important to them.”
Once strangers, both Hansen and Lofgren feel as if spending time with their team is the thing they will miss most come season’s end.
“I have 12 best friends, so it’ll be hard not to work out with them every day,” Lofgren said. “And, of course, the coaches.”
Hansen echoed her fellow senior’s sentiments.
“Honestly, what I’m going to miss most is being with this group of girls and coaches every day,” Hansen said. “They’ve become my closest friends. Megan’s become like a second mom to me, so I absolutely love her, I love all of them. It’ll be hard not to see them every day.”
g.adams@chronicle.utah.edu