Gymnastcs Take on Top Teams in Season Finale

NASHVILLE – The Nashville Municipal Auditorium is poised to host the "Teen Choice Presents: Kidney Care Women's Gymnastics Championships" on March 16, 2024. This premiere event, set against the vibrant backdrop of the Southeast Conference (SEC) Men's Basketball Tournament, will bring together nine elite NCAA women's gymnastics teams, including four top 20 ranked teams, marking a historic weekend for collegiate sports in Nashville.

"This is big for us and for the city," said Fisk Head Coach Corrinne Tarver. "We are excited to perform in our hometown. The competition will be heavy. I am looking forward to seeing how we match up."

Fisk will compete in the late session against the sixth ranked University of Kentucky, fourteenth ranked Auburn University, and fifteenth ranked Ohio State University. With this being the final meet of the year, this is a chance for the Lady Bulldogs to see where they match up against the top teams.

The meet will allow Fisk All Around competitor Morgan Price to see how she stacks up against the top gymnasts. Earlier this season, Price earned the highest score of any HBCU gymnast with a 9.95 in a meet at Bowing Green University on February 11.

Fisk, the first Historical Black College & University (HBCU) to field a gymnastics team, will be joined by the second HBCU team Talladega College in the meet. The two programs won't be competing against each. Talladega will compete in the early session.

Event Schedule:

● Session 1: Starting at 12:30 p.m. CT features Tarver's alma mater the University of Georgia, the University of Iowa, the University of Maryland, the University of Pittsburgh, and Talladega.

● Session 2: Beginning at 7:15 p.m. CT has Auburn University, Fisk, the University of Kentucky, and Ohio State University.

The four top 20 teams, are SEC's Kentucky, Auburn, Georgia, and the Big Ten's Ohio State.

Tickets for the 'Teen Choice Presents: Kidney Care Women's Gymnastics Championships' per session range from $15 - $35 plus taxes/fees and may be purchased online through Ticketmaster at the event or the Municipal Auditorium website. For discounted group tickets, call 615.862.6390. There is a $3 discount per ticket for purchases of 10 or more tickets.

For more information, go to www.kidneycaregymnastics.com

Tarver Fever

Head Coach Corrinne Tarver has been moving nonstop since starting the team last year. The fanfare from being the first HBCU to compete in collegiate gymnastics has spilled over to this season. Last week, she was named one of the "Black Leaders To Know" by the Tennessean Newspaper. Also, media outlets from across the country have kept her calendar busy.

Paying The Price

Last season, Morgan Price gained national attention for de-committing from the University of Arkansas to be part of the first HBCU gymnastics team at Fisk. Her hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed as her teammates named her one of the captains this season. The All-American Price has taken a more vocal approach with her teammates and has been a great ambassador for Fisk University. 

Give Us Liberty

Price isn't the only leader on the team, as fellow All-American Liberty Mora has been an asset to the team at practice and meets. Mora is an encouraging teammate who doesn't mind holding her peers accountable. Mora took a gap year to continue her dream of collegiate athlete.

Muhammad Motivation

Naimah Muhammad's competitive edge has shown up even more this year. When she is finished with her conditioning, it isn't a surprise for her to join her teammates until the last one is done. The Rochester, New York not only excels on the mat, but she is inspired to be a professional sports sideline reporter when she finishes her career.  Muhammad is the first collegiate gymnast to compete in tights because of faith. She often uses quotes from former boxing great Muhammad Ali on her social media platforms.

Zanie Zyia

If you want to describe sophomore Zyia Coleman in one word it would be fun. Not only does her red hair make her stand out at competitions, but she is also extremely talented, and her ceiling is very high. Coleman is also a dancer for Fisk's Ladies of R.A.G.E. who performs during Fisk basketball and volleyball games. Her teammates have nicknamed her "Zee Money".

The Championships are deeply inspired by the resilience of Suni Lee, who balances her Olympic aspirations with managing kidney disease, and the legacy of Shilese Jones's father, whose struggle with kidney disease has profoundly impacted her path in gymnastics. Their stories are central to sparking the Kidney Care initiative, which emphasizes the critical need for kidney health awareness. With over 37 million Americans living with kidney disease and more than 90% potentially unaware of their condition, shedding light on this issue is crucial. The Kidney Care initiative aims to fill this awareness gap, underscoring the silent impact of kidney disease and advocating for proactive health measures and early detection.