A Dexter teenager and West Central Valley junior took home some hardware following a national competition. Suzanne Shoemaker placed third and received a bronze medal at the American Water Ski Association’s Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Fund Adaptive Water Ski National Championships in Paducah, Kentucky last month.

Shoemaker qualified for the competition after placing in the top three in two different categories at the state level. She finished in third place in the Seated Women division. This is her first time qualifying for the national tournament. Before she went she told Raccoon Valley Radio her expectations for the event. “I’m just excited to be there and see other disabled skiers. There’s another couple in the state. They ski well but it’s nice to see other competitors.”

Her other main goal was to place, which she accomplished. She hopes to return again next year. The competition featured the nation’s top disabled water ski athletes and carried with it a set of qualification spots on the 2019 U.S. Adaptive Water Ski Team. Unfortunately Shoemaker did not make the national team.