GYMNASTICS SEASON PREVIEW Fisk Gymnastics Swinging into a New Season

By Naimah Muhammad

It's that time of year again for the Fisk University Gymnastics Team (Gym Dogs) to start their season. In their third season of existence, the Gym Dogs are preparing for more greatness. Last season was one for the books where Fisk Gymnastics was able to send five gymnasts to the USAG Collegiate National Championships including the first HBCU all-around national champion, Morgan Price.

It's not a surprise that this gymnastics team has produced great success with their collegiate gymnasts, such as two-time all American Liberty Mora, Uneven Bars All-American Kiara Richmon, who is also the first HBCU gymnast to compete internationally, and big personalities such as Zyia Coleman, who is a floor All-American. Coleman is best known for creating viral content such as her viral TikTok video of the first gymnastics practice for Fisk that launched them into the media in August 2022.

Richmon, in her their year at Fisk, has high hopes for this team in the upcoming 2024-2025 season. Richmon is one of five seniors on the team and is hoping to continue being a leader this year.

"I feel like we look a lot better as a team and I'm excited going into this season," Richmon said. "We have practiced hard to prepare for big things. I am excited to get started."

This season, Fisk Gymnastics aims to create even more All-Americans and champions, with a packed meet schedule across the Midwest and East Coast, and new faces on the team that are sure to turn up the heat in Nashville. Newcomer Madison Benson, a grad transfer from Dallas, Texas ready to flip her way into HBCU culture. Kendall Guy, a bubbly freshman hailing from Louisville, Kentucky will bring dynamic power on vault and floor.

Currently, Fisk Gymnastics' highest team score is 193.4 out of 200, with hopes to get higher throughout the season. The Bulldogs season opener is January 10 against host Kent State University and HBCU foe Wilberforce University. The lone home meet for the Gym Dogs will be the MLK Invitational, held at the Nashville Fairgrounds on January 13.

Head coach Corrinne Tarver revamped her suppoing staff, elevating volunteer assistant Nuriya Mack to assistant coach, and added two highly decorated volunteer assistants DeShaun Holden and DaAvera Todd to her staff. Mack's sis ter Niya Mack was retained as a part-time assistant.