San Diego, CA

The San Diego Crew Classic Cal Cup: A History of Teamwork Leading to a Healthier America

Published

2 years ago

February 6, 2024

Over the course of the last 50 years, the Cal Cup has been a sought-after prize for men’s varsity teams competing at the San Diego Crew Classic (SDCC). Considered by many as the premier Spring regatta, this annual event provides collegiate teams with a chance to size up the competition across the nation and earn rankings affecting the rest of the rowing season.

So, it is no surprise that when the University of California San Diego (UCSD) men’s varsity team ascended the awards stage to accept the esteemed honor last year, they were elated and proud of their achievement. But there was one other person on the podium who was beaming with pride, the trophy’s sponsor, George DeVries.

DeVries has a long history in the rowing community, taking up the sport when he attended Culver Military Academy during his high school years in Indiana, then later rowing for the UCSD Tritons starting in 1979. DeVries has vivid memories of competing in the San Diego Crew Classic as a collegian. Given this history, DeVries felt truly honored to present the trophy to his alma mater-especially in such a pinnacle anniversary year.

“Yes, that was really fun,” DeVries remembers. “The UCSD boat that won the Cal Cup was a very strong boat and a really strong group of guys. You can see how much UCSD has progressed from when I was there. It was exciting to see that and congratulate the team on their success.”

Through the years, DeVries has seen great progress in his own life following his graduation from UCSD. What happened between those first strokes on Mission Bay in 1979 and presenting the Cal Cup for a full-circle moment in 2023?

After starting out working from his townhouse in Southern California only a few years out of college in 1987, DeVries launched what would become American Specialty Health® (ASH) seeking an opportunity to connect patients with services not included in traditional healthcare benefits packages at the time. With an initial goal to build out the first chiropractic specialty health plan in California, DeVries then grew the company nationally and expanded their offerings to include physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and other specialty health services.

In 2008, DeVries led ASH to develop and implement its first fitness product offering-the Silver&Fit® program, which would serve the senior population through Medicare Advantage plans. That was followed by the introduction of the Active&Fit® family of fitness programs to help all Americans live healthier. ASH is now a nationwide provider of healthcare, fitness, and well-being programs and services that serve more than 60 million Americans through hundreds of health plans nationally.

DeVries attributes much of his company’s success to the value of teamwork, which he learned during his early years as a rower.

“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think that the core of who I am was developed in rowing,” DeVries said. “When you row, you have to be committed and passionate to the sport itself and working together as a team. With commitment, passion and teamwork, great things are created and achieved by those teams.”

He also learned that the values and requirements for success for competitive rowing are the same for business.

“At American Specialty Health, we have a strong culture built around teamwork, working hard, and delivering great service for our clients,” DeVries added. “I always believed from the moment I started this company that my most important decisions weren’t the product we were offering or creating, but the people we were hiring and the team we were building.”

Named by UCSD as one of “50 Distinguished Alumni” in 2011, DeVries is often recognized for his innovative vision and his entrepreneurial expertise. This was critical during the COVID-19 pandemic when many companies struggled, but DeVries’s team-first attitude helped ASH weather the event and come out stronger on the other side. Now, ASH employs more than 1,700 employees in 47 states across the nation. Because the ASH team continues to deliver at the highest level, the health services company has earned several recent accolades including the Nation’s Best and Brightest in Wellness, Top Workplaces Culture Excellence, and San Diego Union-Tribune Top Workplaces awards. The company also posted its highest earnings ever in 2023 with an annual revenue of more than $800 million.

Life hasn’t been all work for DeVries, though. George and his wife Jan of 37 years, have four children. DeVries has applied the same diligence, care, and support to his family that he does at work. He has also fostered a love of rowing in the next generation. All three of DeVries’ sons attended Culver Military Academy, too. DeVries and Miles White teamed there to help build the White-DeVries Boathouse to support their high school alma mater rowing program in continuing to develop young athletes. His sons continued their rowing careers in college, just as their father did-two at Yale and another at the University of Pennsylvania.

DeVries said returning to the San Diego Crew Classic as a “regatta dad” was one of his favorite memories from the event. In one of the final years of his sons’ tenure at Yale, the DeVries family gathered several friends at the “Classic Brunch by The Bay” to watch the racing and delight in seeing his son’s team compete. He said he really enjoyed seeing everyone dressed up and “decked out” for the brunch and regatta.

His long and multi-faceted history with the Crew Classic event as a sponsor for 26 years has made DeVries one of the regatta’s most valued and recognizable stewards. His love of the sport-and of this exceptional event that he once rowed on his home water as a collegian-has stayed with him long after he hung up his oar. It also served as the eventual foundation of values that have guided him as a successful CEO and father.

ASH and the DeVries family memories were created in no small part due to a regatta that honors the hard work and commitment of every rower; though, it mostly honors a sport that demands selfless and indomitable spirit as well as the willingness to give it all for the end goal and for the team.

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San Diego, CA

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

Published

50 minutes ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)

San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.

The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.

The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.

San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.

The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.

Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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San Diego, CA

Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

Published

13 hours ago

March 4, 2026

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Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.

The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.

Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.

Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.

The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.

As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.

The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.

Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”

Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.

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San Diego, CA

SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

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SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Less than 3 weeks after the San Diego Unified School District finalized a new contract with teachers, the school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with layoff notices for other district employees.

The layoffs affect classified employees — workers who are employed by the district but are not teachers and are not certified. That includes bus drivers, custodians, special education and teacher aides, and cafeteria workers.

The district says it is eliminating 221 positions — 133 that are currently filled and 88 that are vacant — to save $19 million and help address a projected $47 million deficit for the next fiscal year.

Preliminary layoff notices will go out on March 15, with final notices by May 15.

The district estimates about 200 classified employees will receive preliminary notices, but of them, about 70 are expected to lose their jobs based on union-negotiated bumping rules.

Bumping allows employees with more seniority to move into another position in the same classification, thereby “bumping” a less senior employee out of that role.

Lupe Murray, an early childhood special education parafacilitator with the district, said the news came as a shock after the teacher strike was called off.

“When the strike was called off, I’m like, ‘Yes!’ So then when I got the email from the Superintendent, I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ So, I think everyone was shocked,” Murray said.

The district says it sends out annual layoff notices, as all districts in the state do.

Before Tuesday’s board meeting, classified employees rallied outside, made up of CSEA (California School Employees Association) Chapters OTBS 788, Paraeducators 759, and OSS 724. They were joined by parents, students, and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Miguel Arellano, a paraeducator independence facilitator with San Diego Unified and a representative of San Diego Paraeducators Cahpter 759.

“What do we want? No layoffs! When do we want it? Now!” the crowd chanted.

Arellano said he felt compelled to act when he learned about the potential layoffs.

“The first thing that went through my mind was that I need to speak up. I need to protect these people,” Arellano said.

Inside the meeting, the board heard emotional, at times tearful testimony from classified employees before voting unanimously to move forward with the layoff schedule.

Superintendent Fabi Bagula said the district has tried to protect classrooms from the cuts.

“We have tried our best to only, I mean, to not touch the school. Or the classroom. But now it’s at the point where it’s getting a little bit harder,” Bagula said. “What I’m still hoping, or what I’m still working toward, because we’re still in negotiations, is that we’re able to actually come to a win-win, where there’s positions and availability and maybe even promotions for folks that are impacted.”

Arellano warned the layoffs could have a direct impact on students.

“We are already spread thin, so, with more of a case load, it’s going to be impossible to be able to service all the students that we need to have,” Arellano said.

Follow ABC 10News Anchor Max Goldwasser on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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