Julianne Shirley, a 5-foot-1 senior at Tallulah Falls High School, announced her decision Thursday to sign with Berry College to play track and field.
Shirley, a two-sport state champion (volleyball and 4×4 relay), said she was thrilled to be able to compete at the collegiate level for the Vikings.
“It has been a dream of mine since my sophomore year at the area meet,” Shirley said in a news release. “I broke a personal record that I thought I would never break. I realized at that moment that I could not imagine only having two more seasons of track and field. So, I decided I wanted to try and compete in college. To finally reach the goal of signing and playing at the next level feels like a huge accomplishment.”
Shirley said she had been looking at Berry as a college option since the summer after 9th grade when she went to a volleyball camp there.
She said she was impressed with the way Berry’s coaches approached her during the recruiting process.
“Coach Syverson and Coach Ulrich were extremely supportive and helpful during the process,” she said. “They have emphasized an academics-first approach that appeals to me. While I know I want to compete in college, my main goal is to get a great education and that makes Berry a perfect fit for me. After talking to my family and Coach Neal and praying, I felt led to take the step and commit to Berry.”
Berry coach Luke Syverson welcomed Shirley to the team.
“We are excited about Julianne joining our program,” Syverson said. “Like other track & field grads that have been and are currently a part of our team, she brings an enthusiastic and coachable personality to our team. Her success in the 200/400m and High Jump will be a great and needed addition to our current roster and know she will fit right in. We are thankful her academic and athletic goals lined up with the unique experience Berry has to offer and we look forward to what she will accomplish here during the next four years.”
