Feature

‘Do You Want To Make History?’

Fisk’s head coach of gymnastics prepares the team for NCAA history

BY BARBARA WOMACK

When Fisk gymnastic head coach Corrinne Tarver first reached out to potential recruits for the gymnastic team, she led with a simple question, "Do you want to make history?"

At the end of February, those who accepted her offer did just that: they became the first HBCU gymnastic team to compete in the NCAA level.

Tarver, who was a gymnastics star during her time at the University of Georgia, was the first black gymnast in UGA’s history and was the first African-American to win an NCAA all-around championship. Tarver also previously served as the Assistant Gymnastics Coach at The University of Pennsylvania, the Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator at Stockton University and most recently came to Fisk from her position as Assistant Director of Athletic Compliance at Syracuse University.

The members of the first HBCU gymnastic team to compete at NCAA level include Zanna Brewer, Lyndsi Callier, Hailey Clark, Zyla Coleman, Jordynn Cromarti, Breyana Daniels, Kaylei McDonald, Liberty Mora, Naimah Muhammad, Morgan Price, Allyah Reed-Hammon, Kiara Richmon, Kiana Session, HyCei White and Alyssa Wiggins.

When asked what it was like being on this team, Jordan Cromarti said, “this team is very surreal; we don't know what impact we are making on the world... this team is something special.”

The women on this gymnastics team have brought inspiration and growth to the African American community. They have sold out meets, garnered much attention from numerous high profile media sources, such as appearing on The Jennifer Hudson Show, and they have competed on ESPN several times.

The Lady Gym Dogs, as they are called, have brought a much needed positive light to the Fisk University community.

"It is important that we represent ourselves, our school and the HBCU community with pride and dignity," Tarver said.

Freshman Morgan Price of Lebanon, Tenn., said that she is enjoying being around her own culture in a learning environment.

“Since we are the first, we have a lot of eyes on us and our support system is excellent. Seeing the fans and little girls cheering us on was super fun,” she said.

Under Tarver’s leadership, the team has shown that they are able to compete with any gymnastics program in the country. The Lady Gym Dogs have six more meets left for the remainder of the season and they appear to be ready and willing to show off their gymnastic stuff to the world.

"My goal for this team is for them to do the very best they can do and for us to become a blueprint for other HBCUs to add gymnastics to their athletic roster,” Tarver said. “Coaching this team has been very humbling. It has been something that's been a long time coming and so I am so proud to be able to bring the team to the floor of a historically Black college and university. It is the first time ever, so we are ready to go.”