Turlock High’s Janelle Eberspecher has signed a letter of intent with the Azusa Pacific University to be a part of the school’s stunt and acrobatics/tumbling programs.

The 18-year-old senior is believed to be the first THS student to ever receive a cheer-based scholarship, according to Bulldogs’ athletic director Mike Brown.

“I was recruited by other programs out of state, but I wanted to stay closer to home,” said Eberspecher, who hopes to major in kinesiology and sports medicine with an aim toward becoming an athletic trainer or physical therapist. “Azusa Pacific is a national power. It’s a good fit.”

Being in Azusa, about 30 miles from Anaheim, is a particularly good fit for a Disney fanatic such as Eberspecher.

“I love Disneyland,” said Eberspecher, who was active in Turlock Youth Cheer, and eventually helped coach sideline cheer and competitive cheer squads. “My family has annual passes. I'll be going there a lot."

While Eberspecher has been a cheerleader for Turlock High, she gained notoriety as part of the Livermore-based California All-Stars Black Ops squad.

The Black Ops opened up a world of serious competitive cheer. Eberspecher competes at the Level 6 Senior Medium Co-Ed division, and she leaves Thursday for Orlando, Fla., where she’ll take part this weekend in the world competition.

“I’ve been training non-stop,” said Eberspecher, who has put nearly 60,000 miles on her 2018 VW Beetle driving to and from Livermore each night of the week. "There’s finally some light at the end of the tunnel.”