This past weekend, the community of Lincoln was host to over one-hundred boys Jr. High Basketball teams in the area.

Each year, Jr. High basketball teams from across the state, midwest, and as far away as Alabama make their way to Lincoln for a 2-day basketball tournament. Executive Director of the Abe Lincoln Tourism Bureau, Geoff Ladd says John Welsh, the head of the tournament, recently passed away, but Lincoln Jr. High School Principal Kent Froebe stepped up to make the tournament happen.

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The tournament is a huge economic boost for the Lincoln tourism industry. Ladd explains the hundreds of people that come to Lincoln for the tournament stay in the hotels, eat at local restaurants, and fill their gas tanks at the local gas stations.

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The sports tourism industry Ladd calls "recession-proof". He explains while the economy continues to recover from the recession, he says sports is something parents will always travel for. He says parents will always make their kids sports a priority.

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Ladd says school gymnasiums from Lincoln Jr. High School to Carroll Catholic School to Lincoln College had gymnasiums in use throughout the weekend hosting the tournament.

Ladd thanks Kent Froebe and all the volunteers he was able to coordinate to make the weekend's tournament another big success in Lincoln.