Nashville's Fisk University introduces first HBCU women's gymnastics team: 'Great energy'

Fisk University gymnastics head coach Corrinne Tarver and first-year team member Zyia Coleman share excitement for the upcoming season

Nashville's Fisk University has officially launched the first-ever women’s gymnastics team at an HBCU.

Black gymnasts, in the past, have been forced to make a tough decision between attending an HBCU institution or pursuing a passion for gymnastics, according to those at Fisk.

Now, lifelong gymnasts such as Zyia Coleman, a Fisk University incoming freshman, are able to participate in the best of both worlds.

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"We’re making history," Coleman said on a call with Fox News Digital. 

"I’m really excited to be a part of history," she added. 

The Fisk University gymnastics team is shown in July 2022.  (Zyia Coleman)

The 18-year-old described the opportunity as "breathtaking." She expressed her excitement about displaying the skills and abilities that she and her teammates offer — and, of course, to have fun and keep learning while doing it.

"I just fell in love with gymnastics." 

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Coleman said gymnastics always came naturally to her as the daughter of a gymnastics coach who taught advanced skills to her at a young age.

"I started competing at the age of five and ever since then, I just fell in love with gymnastics," she said.

Eight years later, Coleman admitted that she wasn’t sold on the thought of college at all until the opportunity to attend an HBCU and practice gymnastics presented itself.

Fisk University Gymnastics freshman Zyia Coleman prepares to practice tumbling.  (Zyia Coleman)

"When you think of HBCUs, you think of the band, the great music, the majorette