Morgan Price: HBCU Legend and Arkansas Gymnast Named SEC Newcomer of the Year

Morgan Price earned a tremendous honor, named SEC Newcomer of the Year. She is also a finalist of the AAI Award as the top senior gymnast in the nation.

Former Fisk gymnast and two-time all-around title holder Morgan Price is named the SEC Newcomer of the Year for the Arkansas Gymbacks. | Credit: Arkansas Gymnastics

HOUSTON - Fisk legend and Arkansas gymnast Morgan Price was named the SEC 2025-26 Newcomer of the Year. Price transferred to the Gymbacks to join her sister Frankie and compete at a higher level. She made the move after dominating Division II since 2022 and winning back-to-back USAG Women's National Championship all-around titles in 2024 and 2025.  

Morgan is only the second Arkansas gymnast to win Newcomer of the Year, awarded to one of the top athletes in their first SEC season.  

The former Queen of HBCU Gymnastics energized the Gymbacks, competing in every meet and scoring a high of 9.900+ on vault and 39.675 all-around.  

Price dazzled with a perfect 10.0 on vault Feb. 20. Her phenomenal 9.925 shattered the Arkansas conference vault record, marking her sixth stellar 9.900+ score on the event this season.

Gymbacks state Morgan is one of only five athletes to score a perfect 10 at two universities. She also earned 9.975 on bars twice, matching the school record and becoming the first Gymback to do so.

She has also been nominated as a finalist for the AAI Award, given to the most outstanding senior collegiate female gymnast in the nation.

Morgan's SEC performances proved her excellence, earning postseason honors. She made the All-SEC team by being among the top four scores at the SEC Championships and won the SEC bronze medal on vault.

Gymbacks team earning All-SEC honors, are as follows:

• Allison Cucci, Arkansas
• Hailey Klein, Arkansas
• Frankie Price, Arkansas
• Morgan Price, Arkansas
• Joscelyn Roberson, Arkansas
• Leah Smith, Arkansas

Frankie Price is a two-time All-SEC honoree on the floor and once on vault. In 2023, she made the All-Freshmen team.

Price & Gymbacks Land in Postseason Competition

The NCAA seeded the Gymbacks No. 9 among 36 squads competing for the 2026 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships. The event begins Thursday, Apr. 2, in the Lexington Regional. Arkansas opens its second round at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, Apr. 3, aired on ESPN+.

The Gymbacks are set for an exciting challenge in their bracket, taking on No. 8 Missouri, NC State, and Maryland. With great anticipation, an advance would see them battle powerhouse No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 16 Kentucky, Ohio State, or CMU/Rutgers. Each team aims to claim a coveted spot among the top two to move on to the Regional Final on Sunday, Apr. 5.

Here’s how she and the Gymbacks could advance

The top two teams at each Regional earn national championship berths. Additionally, the top all-around competitor and event specialist in each Regional round who is not on an advancing team qualify. Event specialists compete only in their qualifying events.

If the Gymbacks don't advance, Price can still qualify as a specialist in her top events: vault and floor exercise.

The SEC site states national championships are April 16-18 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. Both Semifinals air on ESPN2 on Thursday, Apr. 16, while the Championship airs Saturday, Apr. 18, at 4 p.m. ET on ABC.