Talladega College Makes History! First HBCU to Win NCAA Gymnastics Team Competition
|
Posted By: S. Moore on March 05, 2024 In total, Talladega finished with an overall score of 192.2. Alaska came in second at 191.525, and Centenary finished third with 189.15. Talladega finished first in three of the four events. The Talladega College gymnastics team cemented themselves in the history books by becoming the first HBCU to win an NCAA Team Competition. The university first established their gymnastics program last January, and the team is already producing results. On Feb. 9, Talladega participated at the Centenary College Gymnastics competition in Shreveport, LA. They competed against Centenary and Alaska at the meet. The gymnasts competed in the vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercises. Talladega's Kyrstin Johnson led all participants with a score of 38.95. Her teammates Alexa Chuy and Kiora Peart-Williams followed close behind with scores of 38.275 and 37.375, respectively. Talladega's head coach Aja Sims-Fletcher spoke to the local CBS affiliate about her team's success. “This is really for all the minority athletes that are specifically gymnasts that didn't have a chance to compete in college, or are looking forward to having an opportunity to compete, so Bigger Than Us, but truly bigger for this whole sport,” Sims-Fletcher told Arielle Schafer of CBS 42. “I really wanted to let them know that this is a safe space for them. If they competed for Talladega College, they were going to be seen as an athlete, but also as a student and as a young lady.” Sims-Fletcher's motto for their inaugural season has been BTU: Bigger Than Us. The motto instills the young gymnasts with a sense of pride as they blaze a new path for the university. “A lot of people don't even get to make it to college gymnastics, especially being from Canada where we don't have that and I have to go to a different country to try and find that,” said Peart-Williams, a native of Ontario, Canada. “I'm so grateful that I got to be one of the few girls to do that and make history. Being here and being able to show off my power, my technique, my personality to the world – I love that, and I'm once again grateful for that.” SOURCE Clutch Points If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
Comments
More From This Author
Latest News
 |
Valedictorian Michaela Chapple Receives $40,000 Scholarship, Commits to Oakwood UniversityOakwood University congratulates incoming freshman Michaela Chapple, valedictorian of Ephesus Academy’s Class of 2026, on earning a $40,000 academic scholarship and officially committing to Oakwood Un ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 132 Views • June 12th, 2026 |
 |
Alabama State University and Morris Brown College to Sign Partnership AgreementAlabama State University and Morris Brown College will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, establishing a new pathway for Morris Brown graduates to apply for admission ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 174 Views • June 11th, 2026 |
 |
James Artissen - Blank FaceGrammy-Nominated Singer/Songwriter, and Producer James Artissen returns with a dark, emotionally gripping new release, “Blank Face,” arriving on all streaming platforms July 24th. Blending haunting me ...more
Lenell Johnson • 115 Views • June 11th, 2026 |
 |
Grammy-Nominated Artist Pierce Freelon Celebrates Black Joy, Culture, and Confidence with New Children's Album Black Boy GlowAs conversations around identity, belonging, and positive representation continue to shape our communities, Grammy-nominated artist, author, and Afrofuturist creator Pierce Freelon is offering somethi ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 222 Views • June 10th, 2026 |
 |
Love Beyond Walls Launches Forever Forward Scholarship to Support Students Pursuing Higher Education and Career TrainingFor many students, the journey toward higher education requires determination, sacrifice, and perseverance. Recognizing those challenges, Love Beyond Walls has partnered with HBCU CONNECT to launch th ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 542 Views • June 9th, 2026 |
Popular News
 |
North Carolina HBCU Unity DayShaw University - Elizabeth City State University - Johnson C. Smith University - Fayetteville State University - Livingstone College - North Carolina A&T State University - North Carolina Central Uni ...more
Reginald Culpepper • 110,573 Views • August 8th, 2016 |
