Every flip, pass, and toss is a moment of importance for the Morgan State University Acrobatics and Tumbling team.
“Definitely, definitely feel a big weight,” said team base Mariyah Wiggins.
As the first and only Division I team from a historically Black college or university, they understand the significance of their history-making unit.
“As a little girl, I always dreamed of a team that would look like me,” said team flyer Rayla Buckner.
“I don’t know that being the first was as important as being part of the initiative that the NCAA has for emerging sports for women,” said Dena Freeman-Patton, Morgan State’s director of athletics.
There are nearly 50 NCAA acrobatics and tumbling teams. Morgan State is the first team made entirely of minority athletes, according to head coach Regina Smith, who also explains the differences from traditional gymnastics.
“You use apparatuses for artistic gymnastics. So, the students are competing on bar beams, vault floor and then acrobatics, gymnastics. We’re doing the same thing, but we’re doing it on top of people,” she explained.
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Smith looks for athletes with backgrounds in cheerleading or gymnastics, along with a minimum 3.0 GPA and a positive attitude to join the team.
“I look for young ladies that possess a fun-loving attitude, like they just come with just a sense of humor and want to be great,” said Smith.
The day involves weight training and gym sessions where teamwork and trust are essential.
“It really is a lot of pressure because you have to trust yourself and your flyer has to trust you, and that’s another body you’re carrying, and not just yourself,” said team base and tumbler, Kayla Bryant.
HBCUs have a legacy of producing sports stars like Walter Payton and Wilma Rudolph, leaving a lasting impact beyond athletics.
While the historical significance is important, Smith emphasizes the importance of setting a precedent in a sport with few minorities.
“Just being able to show them a positive Black woman in this industry and knowing that they have the support of someone that looks like them, I think is key,” she said.
“It’s just good to make an impact and to just show people that Black girls, we are here and we are making history,” said Wiggins.
