The price of success can be steep, and for Fisk University’s gymnastics program, it may have become unsustainable. Launched just three years ago, Fisk Gymnastics made headlines as the first HBCU program of its kind. It didn’t take long to produce a bona fide star, capture pop culture buzz, and add fresh glory to the school’s trophy case. But behind the dazzling routines and historic firsts, university administrators were juggling financial challenges and questioning where the program truly fit in an athletics department where it stood as a unique outlier. The glow of success was too bright for many to notice the growing cracks beneath. Until suddenly, the curtain dropped.

On June 6, Fisk University announced that the 2026 season will be the last for its pioneering gymnastics team. The university’s official release cited “a comprehensive review” of the program and its misalignment with the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC), which does not sanction gymnastics. This, they explained, created ongoing scheduling difficulties and recruitment obstacles. Well, the announcement sent shockwaves across the collegiate sports world and ignited a flurry of support. For the young athletes—many of whom chose Fisk to be part of something bigger than themselves—the news felt like an eviction notice from a dream. The calls for support quickly escalated. Then came a flicker of hope.

On June 17, Forbes Sports journalist Carolina Price shared highlights from a pivotal stakeholders’ meeting. Among those speaking up was Fisk Board of Trustees member and proud alumnus Samuel Williams (class of ’68). His message was clear and cautiously optimistic. “If we come up and we raise some money,” Williams said, “I don’t think that they’re going to let (Fisk Gymnastics) go.”

He backed that confidence with institutional insight: “As a member of the Board of Trustees at Fisk, I don’t think we want anything good to leave our institution…the mere fact that the President indicated that she would continue to program for at least a year is a positive sign..” With the clock ticking and emotions running high, what happens next will depend on what the Fisk community—and the broader gymnastics world—is willing to do. But two factors will be prominent here in deciding the final call. 

This past season, Fisk stood as one of just 85 women’s collegiate gymnastics programs in the entire country. What set it apart? The other 84 belonged to NCAA schools—62 in Division I, four in Division II, and 18 in Division III. Fisk, by contrast, competes in the NAIA, a league with its own rules, restrictions, and financial hurdles. That structural divide has always made gymnastics at Fisk an uphill battle, and the pressure to sustain it has only grown louder. Navigating those challenges now demands more than passion—it requires bold leadership and strategic resolve.

Fortunately, there’s pride at the top. On June 6, as the university announced the program’s impending closure, Fisk Athletics Director Valencia Jordan didn’t let the moment pass without acknowledging the trailblazers behind the team’s rise.

“Fisk is grateful for the hard work, dedication and tenacity of its gymnasts, staff members, and coaches who made this program possible,” Jordan said. And rightly so. Last season, the team didn’t just survive—they excelled, turning heads and proving that excellence knows no division.

The Fisk University gymnastics program displayed the proper authority 

Fisk’s 2025 season concluded at the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics National Invitation Championship—a showcase for non-Division I programs—where seven team members qualified to compete. Leading the charge was Morgan Price, who delivered a historic performance. She claimed her second consecutive individual all-around national title and completed a clean sweep by winning all four individual events: vault, balance beam, uneven bars, and floor exercise. Her dominance was unmatched, highlighted by a perfect 10 on the uneven bars and a national all-around ranking inside the top 35 across all divisions.

Throughout the season, the GymDogs proved their mettle by defeating both Division I and Division II teams, including an impressive double upset over two D-I programs in a single meet. Price and three teammates earned first-team All-American honors, cementing their place among the nation’s elite.

Yet despite their groundbreaking success, no other HBCU stepped forward to follow Fisk’s path. Since the first collegiate gymnastics national championship in 1982, Fisk remains the only HBCU to field its own gymnastics team—a fact that underscores both the magnitude of their achievement and the loneliness of their trailblazing journey. Well, this program has always been about more than medals. It’s about legacy, visibility, and proving that greatness can emerge anywhere, even from a program some thought never should have existed in the first place.