Fisk University Gymnastics Program Ends After Historic Three-Year Run

Fisk University just announced it will end its groundbreaking women’s gymnastics program after the 2026 season, and the collegiate athletics world is buzzing. This program made history as the first-ever at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU).

In a short time, standout athletes like Morgan Price pushed the team into national prominence. Despite success and cultural significance, the university pointed to financial realities, recruiting issues, and no conference alignment as the main reasons for ending the sport.

This move closes a brief but historic chapter for the GymDogs. They inspired young athletes and made a unique mark in college sports. (Source)

The Rise of Fisk University Gymnastics

When Fisk started its women’s gymnastics program in 2023, it jumped into the unknown. No other HBCU had ever fielded a gymnastics team in the NCAA’s 40-plus year history.

The GymDogs quickly became a symbol of representation and opportunity. Young Black gymnasts finally had a place to compete at the college level while attending an HBCU.

In just three seasons, the program produced a national star in Morgan Price. Her performances caught the attention of gymnastics fans everywhere.

Price became the face of the team and a cultural ambassador for diversity in the sport. Her choice to attend Fisk over a traditional NCAA powerhouse sent a strong message about visibility and representation in athletics.

Breaking Barriers in Collegiate Gymnastics

The GymDogs’ story was never just about competition. It was about breaking barriers that had stood for decades.

They competed against NCAA Division I and II programs and even defeated two Division I teams in one meet. That kind of success challenged old perceptions about what smaller programs and HBCUs could do in sports outside their usual offerings.

Price’s dominance was historic. She won back-to-back all-around national championships at the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics National Invitation Championship.

She became the first gymnast in the event’s history to win all four individual apparatus titles—vault, balance beam, uneven bars, and floor exercise—in a single year. She even scored a perfect 10 on the uneven bars and ranked among the top 35 all-around gymnasts in the country, no matter the division.

The Challenges Behind the Success

Even with all those accolades, the program faced big structural challenges. Gymnastics isn’t an HBCU Athletic Conference (HBUAC)-sanctioned sport, so Fisk had to schedule competitions and recruit without the safety net of a conference.

This put extra financial strain on the athletic department, which also had to balance the needs of its NAIA-affiliated teams. The university’s review showed that the lack of conference alignment limited long-term growth.

Recruiting elite gymnasts to an NAIA school without a direct NCAA championship path proved tough. The upcoming departures of Price and several seniors after 2025 made the roster situation even trickier.

Financial Realities and Program Sustainability

Gymnastics is expensive. The sport needs specialized equipment, facilities, and expert coaches, and without conference or NCAA-level funding, Fisk had to cover all the costs alone.

Valencia Jordan, Fisk’s Director of Athletics, said the decision wasn’t about a lack of appreciation for the team’s achievements. Instead, it’s a strategic shift to focus on conference-affiliated sports, where competition is more accessible and finances are more manageable.

Morgan Price’s Impact and Legacy

Morgan Price drove much of Fisk gymnastics’ meteoric rise. She originally committed to the University of Arkansas but chose Fisk, inspired by the chance to make history and be a role model for young Black gymnasts.

Price often said she rarely had teammates who looked like her growing up in the sport. She wanted to change that reality for others.

Her time at Fisk was extraordinary. She earned HBCU Sports Female Athlete of the Year in 2024 and College Gymnastics News Women’s College Gymnast of the Year in 2025.