It’s been 41 years since the first NCAA women’s gymnastics championship took place. And this new HBSU team is already making its mark. Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, made history last year by launching its gymnastics program, and last Friday, it became the first HBCU gymnastics team to compete at the NCAA level. The achievement’s significance is undeniable, given that many leading gymnasts today are African-American women. Among the young athletes eager to be a part of this groundbreaking moment was Morgan Price. Since then, she has turned out to be a highly sought-after five-star recruit.

Initially committed to the University of Arkansas, Price made a bold move to decommit to Arkansas and join Fisk’s inaugural gymnastics team. Her choice signified more than just a school change. It was a statement, a commitment to history in the making. Fisk University made its much-anticipated debut at the Super 16 event in Las Vegas, facing off against North Carolina, Southern Utah, and Washington.

Just 14 months after they announced the gymnastics program, the Bulldogs stepped on the national stage ready to make history. And the frontrunner of this campaign was Morgan, who landed a picture-perfect 10. Her performance at Temple University not only built her legend some more, but it also ended up being the first perfect 10 for HBSUs.

This again just serves as another statement to the talent that HBSU is fostering. And the 19-year-old stalwart looks to be the cream of the crop. After all, this was her dream even before the team existed. In an interview with ESPN, Morgan Price mentions how, “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.” And with a score of 191.375, the bulldogs have proved that, just like Morgan, they are here to stay.

However, this perfect 10 isn’t all that Price achieved. She also clinched the USAG All-Around title. She continues to write doubters off and make her name known as a trailblazer. But credit also has to be given to coach Corrine Tarver. After all, she walked so athletes like Morgan could run. How do you ask? Well, 35 years ago, she became the first African-American to win an NCAA all-around title as part of the Bulldogs.

But since then she has turned her skills into nourishing the next generation of visionaries. And her students are making her proud, it seems, as under the leadership of Morgan Price, HBSU looks to usher in a new age of gymnastics, where talents outside the traditional powerhouses can also thrive. But beyond the mat, Morgan has also been an inspiration.

Morgan Price’s Journey to HBCU Glory

Morgan Price first gained attention in 2022 when she announced her decision to join Fisk’s fledgling program instead of an SEC powerhouse. The Lebanon, Tennessee, native saw it as an opportunity to not only stay closer to home but also fulfill a lifelong dream of competing for HBCUs. The decision paid off spectacularly. In her second year, Price achieved what no HBCU gymnast had done before. She won a national collegiate all-around championship.

Then a year later, at the 2024 Women’s Collegiate National Championships held by USA Gymnastics in Westchester, Pennsylvania, Price won another title with an all-around score of 39.225. This historic victory made her the first USAG College National Champion from an HBCU. In recognition of her achievements, HBCU Sports also named her Female Athlete of the Year during their inaugural awards show.

With every routine, Morgan Price and her teammates are rewriting history. They are opening doors for future gymnasts who aspire to compete at the highest level while representing historically black institutions. Fisk University’s gymnastics program is not just a team; it has become a movement of sorts. Under the guidance of Coach Corrinne Tarver and with athletes like Morgan Price leading the charge, the Bulldogs are breaking the barriers and setting the stage for an even brighter future of college gymnastics.