LEWISBURG -- More than 1,000 students and their families are making a splash this week in Union County. The PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships are at Bucknell University in Lewisburg. Families spent the day cheering for their kids.
"It's pretty exciting right now," said Edward Zawatski.
Edward Zawatski traveled about an hour and a half from Plymouth to watch his son from Wyoming valley west high school compete.
"If you don't get a hotel room like by last year, you're not going to get anywhere probably within 20 miles of this place," said Zawatski.
It's not just students and their families who look forward to the PIAA championships. Restaurants, hotels and stores in and around Lewisburg see a boom in business during the week of the championships.
"I'm probably, myself going to spend $1,000 here on my family and things here," said Zawatski.
PIAA championship signs decorate downtown Lewisburg, welcoming swimmers and their families. Some stores offer a 15% off shopping pass for their out-of-town guests. D & J Sports is a swimming supply store on Market Street. Manager Mary Jones said it is one of the busiest weeks of the year.
"Weeks ago they start calling for their tech suits. If we have a certain kind of goggles they want, they'll pick them up when they get here," said Jones.
Over at Damon's Grill on Route 15, hungry swimmers are filling up on carbohydrates. Employees said there are a lot of reservations made this week.
"They start pouring in at 11 a.m. as soon as we open. I know yesterday we had 22 people here before we were even open," said Ashley Porschet.
The PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships continue through Saturday at Bucknell University in Lewisburg.