Submitted photo New Ulm’s Adaline Schaefer poses by the NGA National Gymnastics Championships sign after medaling at the competition in Orlando, Florida.

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Adaline Schaefer, a 12-year-old gymnast from New Ulm, captured the National Championship on uneven bars and earned a third-place all-around finish in her first appearance at the National Gymnastics Association (NGA) National Championships.

The National Championships were held June 4-8 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

Competing in Level 5 for Owatonna Gymnastics Club, Schaefer advanced to Nationals after qualifying through both state and regional competition.

At the National Championships, Schaefer delivered strong performances across all four events. She captured first place on uneven bars with a score of 9.45 and earned third place on floor exercise with a score of 9.625. She also placed eighth on vault with a 9.575 and eighth on balance beam with a 9.425. Her combined score of 38.075 secured a third-place finish in the all-around competition.

The road to Nationals began at the Minnesota State Championships in April in Northfield, where Schaefer placed first on vault and floor exercise, third on bars and in the all-around, and fourth on beam. She then advanced to the NGA Regional Championships in May at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, where she placed third on vault and bars, fifth on beam, sixth on floor, and second in the all-around.

Her regional performance also earned her a spot on the Regional Team, which recognizes the top eight gymnasts in each level based on their all-around scores at the regional championships.

This season marked Schaefer’s first year competing with Owatonna Gymnastics Club through the NGA program. During the regular season, she also trains and competes with Turner Gymnastics Academy in New Ulm through the Midwest Amateur Gymnastics Association.

Schaefer was coached at the National Championships by Brittney Cole and Ava Westbrock of Owatonna Gymnastics Club.

Following her performance at Nationals, Schaefer received an invitation to the NGA training camp in Tennessee. Invitations are awarded to the top 30 gymnasts in each level based on their all-around scores at the NGA National Championships, recognizing some of the highest-performing athletes in the country.

In her first appearance at the NGA National Championships, Schaefer returned home with a national title on uneven bars, a third-place all-around finish, and an invitation to attend the Tennessee training camp.