Fisk University made history on Jan. 6 at the Super 16 gymnastics invitational in Las Vegas as the first historically Black college or university to compete in NCAA gymnastics.
The team was established just 14 months ago and placed fourth overall with a score of 186.700 against established programs Southern Utah, Washington, and North Carolina.
“It feels really cool,” top recruit Morgan Price told ESPN. “We have a lot of eyes on us because we are the first and because we are making history, so it’s just so exciting to be a part of the first team ever.”
Price turned heads competing in all four individual events, earning the meet’s highest score on the vault with a score of 9.9.
The five-star recruit who had initially committed to Arkansas before switching to Fisk was the team’s strongest performer on the day, according to ESPN.
The Bulldogs were led under the direction of coach Corrinne Tarver, the first Black gymnast to win an NCAA all-around title in 1989, who said the team’s goal this season is to leave “everything on the mat.”
Tarver told Good Morning America that she hopes the team will inspire more diversity within NCAA gymnastics.
“Well honestly I want the team to go out there every single competition, do the best that they are capable of doing,” said Tarver. “Overall I am hoping that we are a blueprint for other HBCUs to add a gymnastics program.”
The team is gearing up to face Michigan, the 2021 NCAA champion, on Friday, Jan. 13.
