Three-time Arizona state Level 10 all-around champion Megan Whitney, a Salt Lake City native, has seen the University of Utah as "her dream school all along," said her mother, Laura Baker.

Whitney, a high school junior and a rising star at the prestigious Desert Devils club run by former Ute Shelly (Schaerrer) Eaton and husband Geoff, originally made an early verbal commitment to Denver University. But the Pioneers later allowed her to pursue other options, and she recently made a verbal commitment to Utah to join up in fall 2009.

"Utah was always her first choice," said Baker, noting that Whitney made unofficial visits to the campus last July and November after contacting Marsden when Denver allowed her to do so. Schaerrer-Eaton also contacted Marsden about her.

She has agreed to sign an NCAA letter-of-intent for a scholarship with Utah in the November 2008 signing period.

Marsden is prohibited by the NCAA from speaking about recruits until after he has the signed LOI in hand.

Whitney will compete May 16-19 in the Junior Olympic national championships at Kissimmee, Fla. She was 13th all-around there last year, sixth on vault and bars, probably her two best events, said her mother. "She's a very powerful vaulter," Baker said.

Whitney resisted offers to join the nation's elite level. "NCAA competition was always her goal," said Baker, explaining she wanted to stay healthy for that.

Whitney, 16, was born in Salt Lake City, was influenced by the Utes' team, started gymnastics at Missy Marlowe's club and still has family here. Her family moved to Toronto for five years and has spent the last three years in Arizona. Whitney gave up gymnastics in favor of dance for a while but returned to tumbling while in Toronto, then got more serious about gymnastics again and has progressed rapidly.

She is also a straight-A student.

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E-mail: lham@desnews.com