Gymnastics’ Season Three Kicks Off at Kent State University
Meet 1: Fisk University Lady Bulldogs, Wilberforce University at Kent State University
Date/Time: Friday January 10, 2025, 6 p.m. (CST)
Watch: Kent State Gymnastics vs Fisk & Wilberforce
Location: Kent State University – Kent, Ohio
KENT, Ohio (January 10, 2025) -The weather outside is frightful, but it will be some red-hot action this Friday when the Fisk University Gymnastics Team (Gym Dogs) starts their season in Kent, Ohio. The trip will be a homecoming for new assistant coach Nuriya Mack, where she starred for the host Kent State University. Mack helped Kent to a Mid-American Conference championship as a beam specialist.
"I'm excited to make my collegiate coaching debut at a place that is so comforting and full of great memories for me," said Mack. "It's truly a full-circle moment to go from being an athlete here to now bringing Fisk back home as a coach."
HBCU foe Wilberforce University will also compete in the meet. This will be the first time the two schools will face each other. They will also compete in Fisk's next two meets, the MLK Invitational in Nashville on Monday and in Chicago on January 17 at the Windy City Classic.
Fisk Gymnastics is coming off a successful post-season run at the 2024 USAG Collegiate Nationals, where six athletes qualified. Junior Morgan Price earned the title of the 2024 USAG Collegiate All-Around Champion, becoming the first HBCU gymnast to do so. As the team enters this season, the Gym Dogs are looking forward to seeing strong performances from returning Price all-around competitors and sophomore Ciniah Rosby.
Fisk added to their roster with two strong transfers. Madison Benson, a graduate student from North Carolina State, contributed across all four events during her time there. She will be competing on three events at Kent and will work toward competing in the all-around as the season progresses. Allie Berkley, who previously contributed on vault at Lindenwood, joins Fisk after helping her team win championships in 2023 and 2024. She'll be making her Fisk debut on three events and is expected to be an integral part on the all-around throughout the season.
Another newcomer, Kendall Guy, a freshman, will add powerhouse talent to vault and floor lineups. There are high expectations for Guy and the rest of the highly touted freshman class to carry the torch.
NEXT UP: The Gym Dogs will be in action for their lone home meet on Monday at The Fairgrounds Nashville for the MLK Invitational against Rutgers, Wilberforce, and William & Mary.