Fisk University’s Morgan Price makes history recording highest-ever score by an HBCU gymnast

Fisk University gymnast Morgan Price recently set a new record for herself and HBCUs when she scored a 39.275, which helped her place second in a gymnastics meet at Bowling Green.

According to ClutchPoints, Price’s outstanding performance on the balancing beam earned her a 9.95, resulting in her second-place finish at the meet. All in all, she earned the highest-ever score recorded by an HBCU gymnast, per a post by Fisk University Gymnastics.

In 2023, Fisk made history as the first HBCU to compete in NCAA Gymnastics, having made its debut on January 6 at the inaugural Super 16 event in Las Vegas. People reported that the Nashville-based university competed against universities with more established programs, such as Southern Utah University, the University of Washington, and the University of North Carolina, and came in fourth place with an overall score of 186.700.

Price, who competed as well, recorded the highest vault score of the meet with an incredible 9.9, supported by an almost flawless landing.

When she spoke to ESPN at the time, she said, “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.”

In 2022, both the university and Price made headlines when the young prodigy transferred her college enrollment from the University of Arkansas to Fisk. After learning about Fisk’s new gymnastics program—the first in HBCU history—the 18-year-old decided to transfer. 

“It’s so exciting to be able to be a part of the first of something because it’s just new and exciting and all eyes will be on us this season because we are the first HBCU gymnastics team. I’m just so excited to be able to be making history with my other teammates,” Price told The Tennessean at the time. 

Price’s decision helped lift the university as it launched the nation’s first HBCU gymnastics team. The young gymnast first showcased her skills at a gymnastics meet hosted by Fisk University, which featured all Black women head coaches, and saw The Lady Bulldogs compete against Brown University, Iowa State University, Rutgers University, William & Mary University, and Talladega College.

The event took place on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and was successful in promoting diversity in the sport.