For Julianna Kitchen, sitting on the sidelines has never been much of an option. The Westbrook resident is a four-sport athlete who thrives on the challenge of learning something new, competing alongside her teammates and pushing herself to see just how far she can go.

Julianna has called Westbrook home for the past two years, but her athletic journey began much earlier. A Savannah native, she has played soccer with Savannah United since she was six years old. For years, soccer was her primary sport, but as she entered her teenage years, she began exploring new opportunities.

She started volleyball in seventh grade and added track and flag football during her freshman year. What began as an opportunity to try something different quickly turned into a new passion.

Today, Julianna plays soccer, volleyball, track and flag football for Calvary, while also competing in flag football with Southern Heat. Although she continues to enjoy all four sports, flag football and track have emerged as her primary focus.

Her success on the track has already given her some unforgettable experiences. Julianna qualified for the state competition in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4x100-meter relay. Her relay team went on to place fourth in Georgia, and the experience included the opportunity to compete at the University of Georgia’s track and field stadium.

Finishing fourth in the state was one of her most recent major accomplishments, but it certainly wasn’t her only standout performance. In flag football, Julianna was named to the All-Tournament Team during a competition in Ohio, while Calvary’s flag football team made an impressive run to the Elite Eight last year.

For Julianna, however, the appeal of athletics goes beyond the medals, rankings and wins. She especially enjoys traveling for flag football competitions and experiencing the opportunity to compete against athletes from different teams and communities.

Her growing passion for the sport has also given her a clear goal for the future: playing flag football at the collegiate level and earning a college scholarship.

Behind that ambition is a strong support system, including someone especially close to home. Julianna credits her older brother, Nicholas, as one of her biggest inspirations. He not only serves as a role model but also helps coach her flag football team, giving the siblings the opportunity to share their love of the sport.

Balancing four sports requires plenty of dedication, but Julianna’s willingness to try something new has played an important role in her athletic growth. Her advice to other young athletes is simple: “Go for it!”

“You never know how much you’ll actually like a sport until you try it,” she says.

That philosophy has certainly served Julianna well. Had she stuck exclusively with the sport she loved as a young girl, she might never have discovered her talent for sprinting or her growing passion for flag football. Instead, she embraced new challenges—and found herself standing on a state podium and earning recognition at tournaments along the way.

As she looks ahead, Julianna plans to continue developing her skills, competing at a high level and pursuing opportunities to play flag football in college. With her competitive spirit, willingness to work and openness to new challenges, she’s already proving that sometimes the best way to discover what you’re capable of is simply to go for it.