The Isla Foundation, in partnership with Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (BGDG), has announced the inaugural Isla HBCU Classic, a new event celebrating diversity, athletic excellence, and the rich culture of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The three-day event will take place Feb. 14-16, 2025, in Wilberforce, Ohio, and feature a meet between the nation’s only two HBCU gymnastics teams, Fisk and Wilberforce, alongside guest team Greenville.
The Isla HBCU Classic will highlight the achievements of marginalized athletes and emphasize the significance of HBCUs in the world of sports, with competition and performances from club-level gymnasts, collegiate athletes, and HBCU cheerleading teams.
Fisk, with support from BGDG, made history in 2022 by launching the first-ever women’s gymnastics team at an HBCU. In 2024, standout gymnast Morgan Price won the all-around competition at the USAG national championships, becoming the first HBCU gymnast to claim the title.
Wilberforce University, led by head coach and former Division I gymnast Dr. Morgan Byrd, will make history this season as the third-ever HBCU women’s gymnastics team. Originally set for a 2026 debut, the team is competing a year earlier than expected, with standout transfers from the recently…
