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Athletes Dive Into Lewisburg, Make A Big Splash for Business

LEWISBURG — People are diving into Lewisburg this week for the PIAA swimming and diving championships at Bucknell University. With more than 1,000 athlete...

LEWISBURG -- People are diving into Lewisburg this week for the PIAA swimming and diving championships at Bucknell University.

With more than 1,000 athletes, coaches, and family members, that means big business for the local economy.

The state swimming and diving championships are held each year in Lewisburg which is a central location for many people to travel. Even so, many must stay in hotels.

"I believe my wife booked it two months in advance," said Scranton resident Jeff Lastauskas.

"My wife's going to come in tomorrow, she's going to come with my other son to watch the meet, but when you're competing and it's a multiday event, last year we had a relay team here and they stayed overnight as well," said Mark Solomon of Athens.

With people staying in hotels, eating, and shopping in Lewisburg, it's a big boost to the local economy.

"We're basically sold out Tuesday night into Friday night."

Mike Boyer is a manager at Best Western Country Cupboard Inn, near Lewisburg. He says this is one of their busiest weeks of the year.

"We generally take the same teams year after year so the teams are set and then it just depends on how many qualifiers they have, if we have any openings at all."

Of course, the athletes and their families need to eat, so this week the restaurant business in and around Lewisburg is booming.

"Damon's stays open later this week because of the business we have here and also Country Cupboard gets quite a business, both the shops and the restaurant," Boyer said.

The PIAA swimming and diving championships run through Saturday at Bucknell University.

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