Local Sports Update – Stay Informed with Hometown News

Morgan Price Makes History as First HBCU Gymnast to Win Collegiate National Title

Morgan Price, a sophomore at Fisk University, has made history by becoming the first gymnast from a historically Black college or university to win a collegiate national title. Price clinched the 2024 USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate National Championships all-around title on April 12, scoring an impressive 39.225 overall.

In an interview with ABC News’ Good Morning America, Price expressed her excitement and gratitude for the honor. She credited her hard work and dedication for her success, noting that she was motivated to push herself after falling short of her goals at nationals last year.

Price comes from a family of athletes, with her late father being a professional baseball player for the Kansas City Royals and her mother a college cheerleader at Vanderbilt University. Her sister Frankie Price is also a college gymnast at the University of Arkansas.

Price’s achievement is particularly noteworthy due to the challenges of competing in all four disciplines of gymnastics. Fisk gymnastics head coach Corrinne Tarver praised Price’s talent and dedication, emphasizing the difficulty of excelling in all four events consistently.

As the first gymnast from an HBCU to win a collegiate national title, Price hopes to inspire other young Black girls to pursue their dreams and never give up, no matter the obstacles they face. She also has her sights set on becoming a head gymnastics coach at an HBCU in the future.

Fisk University launched its gymnastics team in 2022, making history as the first HBCU to do so. Head coach Tarver, who was the first Black gymnast to win an NCAA all-around title in 1989, has been leading the team to success ever since.

Price’s groundbreaking achievement serves as a testament to the talent and dedication found within HBCU athletics, showcasing the importance of diversity and representation in collegiate sports.