Connect with us

San Diego, CA

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

Published

on


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.”

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

“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.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

San Diego, CA

15 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: June 3-7 | San Diego Magazine

Published

on

15 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: June 3-7 | San Diego Magazine


There’s a creative inertia that resides in San Diego, producing a near-constant stream of cool events. Fortunately, this weekend is no different. Those with an artistic inkling can search for inspiration at MCASD’s EXPO Design Market or admire the mixture of live performance and neighborhood charm during the North Park Music Fest. Foodies can dine (with wine) at Stake Chophouse & Bar during its ZD Wines Dinner or explore Barrio Logan’s standout eats at the Sabor Del Barrio. Plus, Pride Month is already in full swing in SD with the return of DISCO RIOT’s Queer Mvmnt Fest and the two-day Out & Abt Music Festival.

Food & Drink | Concerts & Festivals | Theater & Art Exhibits | More Fun Things to Do

Courtesy of Sabor Del Barrio

Food & Drink Events in San Diego This Weekend

ZD Wines Dinner at Stake Chophouse & Bar

June 4

Stake Chophouse & Bar is collaborating with Napa Valley’s ZD Wines—a family-run winemaking institution that’s been around since 1969—on an intimate four-course dinner this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Throughout the meal, each dish will be paired with a curated pour from ZD Wines, with patrons set to receive a chardonnay, pinot noir, and pair of cabernet sauvignons. Dinner guests will also be treated to insight on the night’s wine pairings from ZD Wines’ senior winemaker Chris Pisani. Reservations are $210 pre-paid through OpenTable. 

1309 Orange Avenue, Coronado

Advertisement

Sabor Del Barrio

June 7

Take advantage of all the dynamic attractions that the Barrio Logan Cultural District has to offer—and eat very well while you’re at it—during the third annual Sabor Del Barrio. This Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. attendees can devour their way through 35 neighborhood staples and traverse the tasting stops on foot, by bike, via a free trolley shuttle, or a combination of the three. Tickets are $40 online ($55 day of) and come with complimentary admission to Quint Gallery, the Athenaeum Art Center, and the Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center, plus a free tour of Tao of Clay.

Barrio Logan

Concerts & Festivals in San Diego This Weekend

Sam Hinton Folk Heritage Festival at Old Poway Park

June 6

Survey the depth of oral storytelling during the free annual Sam Hinton Folk Heritage Festival this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Old Poway Park. Named for harmonica virtuoso, marine biologist, and longtime San Diegan Sam Hinton, this event highlights folk artists who specialize in time-honored traditions. Throughout the day, attendees can see performances by musicians with roots in Americana, Cajun, and Appalachian rhythms on the main stage, dance in the Templars Hall, and hear historical tales from the Storytellers of San Diego in the Porter House. 

14134 Midland Road, Poway

Advertisement

North Park Music Fest

June 6

Psychedelic rockers Frankie and the Witch Fingers will headline an eclectic lineup at the North Park Music Fest. This Saturday, enjoy sets from noon to 1:45 a.m. from over thirty performers—including DJs, bands, and local acts—across a dozen North Park venues. Ticket options include general admission ($25 online, $35 day of) and VIP passes ($65) which come with lounge access at Granada House, line-skipping privileges and more; festival proceeds will go towards the North Park Business & Neighborhood Foundation. Plus, performances at Pure Pawsh, Visual Art + Supply, Overland, and Playground Art + Coffee will be open to the public. 

North Park

Out & Abt Music Festival 

June 6 & 7

The calendar has just flipped to Pride Month, and Out & Abt is celebrating in style. The two-day Out & Abt Music Festival begins Saturday from 3-10 p.m. at The Soap Factory with drag shows, circus acts, a manic pixie dream market, two stages of live music, and last but not least, a mechanical bull. The festivities will continue with an after party from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Gossip Grill and conclude with an afternoon pool party at Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on Sunday from 1-7 p.m. Ticket options include weekend general admission passes ($70), and entry to the music festival ($30), after party ($17) and pool party ($27).

Citywide

Photo Credit: Kevin Berne

Theater & Art Exhibits in San Diego This Weekend

The Monsters at La Jolla Playhouse

June 2-28

Fresh off its Drama Desk Award-winning run in the Big Apple this past winter, The Monsters will have its first West Coast production beginning Tuesday in the Mandall Weiss Forum at La Jolla Playhouse. Written by and co-starring Ngozi Anyanwu, The Monsters finds its reconciliatory narrative in a young woman yearning to repair her relationship with her estranged older brother in the brutal and unforgiving world of mixed martial arts. The Monsters will have preview performances this Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 & 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 & 7 p.m., with tickets ranging from $30-$74. 

2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla

Advertisement

Queer Mvmnt Fest

June 3-7

DISCO RIOT has orchestrated five days of queer-focused events centered on the essence and vitality of movement for its annual Queer Mvmnt Fest. The festival begins Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. with short film screenings at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, and will include six free movement workshops, with instruction ranging from breathwork to ballet and beyond. Plus, on back-to-back nights at the Malashok Black Box Theater, the participating 2SLGBTQIA+ artists will perform in a variety show (Friday at 7 p.m.) and a featured artist showcase (Saturday at 7:30 p.m.). Admission ranges from free to $40 for individual events at Queer Mvmnt Fest.

Citywide

Golden State Ballet: A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Balboa Theatre

June 5-7

The final production in Golden State Ballet’s 2025/26 season will be a world premiere version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, crafted by the company’s artistic director Raúl Salamanca. Inspired by William Shakespeare’s celebratory fantasy play and George Balanchine’s subsequent ballet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream will guide viewers into a fanciful world. This production will also feature the return of Houston Thomas’ neoclassical ballet The Four Seasons to the Golden State Ballet program. Tickets range from $45-$126, with performances this Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 & 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Balboa Theatre. 

868 Fourth Avenue, Gaslamp

Let’s Chat at Lamplighters Community Theatre

June 5-14

The ever-expanding presence of artificial intelligence looms large over America’s educational institutions, most notably at the college level. In Let’s Chat, a world-premiere play written and directed by Lisa Balderston, a complex student-teacher quarrel is sprung from the natural tug-of-war between AI usage and ethical standards. Theatergoers can catch Let’s Chat at Lamplighters Community Theatre on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 2 p.m. this week and next. Tickets are $30 for adults and $28 for students, seniors, and active military. ​

Advertisement

5915 Severin Drive, La Mesa 

Hairspray at New Village Arts

June 5 – July 19 

It’s 1962 in Baltimore, and the dancefloor of The Corny Collins Show, the city’s preeminent teen variety show, is the unlikely setting for a battle over racial integration. Based on John Waters’ most accessible film, Hairspray has since become a beloved stage musical featuring teen idols, endearing characters, and a beat that can’t be stopped. New Village Arts’ production of Hairspray will begin with previews ($40) this Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., and two additional previews next week, before the production opens on June 13 ($80).

2787 State Street, Carlsbad

New Exhibitions at California Center for the Arts Museum

June 6 – August 16

Ancestry, history, and the immersively original connection to them both is at the forefront of two new exhibitions opening Saturday at the California Center for the Arts Museum. In Field Notes on Memory, a product of the museum’s In Studio Artist Residency program, artists Farshid Bazmandegan, Tony M. Bingham, and Helena Westra blend sentimental and tangible materials with culturally-grounded stories. In José Hugo Sánchez’s Amoxtlis, which will have a free opening reception this Saturday from 4-6 p.m., Sánchez tackles border relations through printmaking informed by Mesoamerican innovation and medium-spanning influences. 

340 North Escondido Boulevard, Escondido

Advertisement

More Fun Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend

Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair at Digital Gym Cinema

June 5-11

Digital Gym Cinema and American Cinematheque invite filmgoers to resonate with all matters of havoc and helplessness during Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair. While this week-long gauntlet of afflicting cinema will examine the atrocities of the world in which we live, it is also intended to demonstrate the resounding hope that remains. The Bleak Week programming at Digital Gym Cinema will navigate stories of grief, pain, gore, and beyond, with selections by international directors like Lars von Trier, Béla Tarr and Andrzej Wajda. Tickets are $14 for all series screenings, with multiple showings of each film happening throughout the week. 

1100 Market Street, East Village

Giro di San Diego GranFondo

June 6

Cyclists will test their strength as well as their appetites (for both a challenge and the large meal that follows it) during this Saturday’s Giro di San Diego GranFondo. All riders depart from Frances Ryan Park in Escondido at 7:15 a.m. and end in the same location, with mountainous course distances of 20, 32, 56 and 95 miles, as well as the brand-new King & Queen of the Mountain climbing challenge. But no GranFondo is complete without a proper reward, and all cyclists who cross the finish line can enjoy a post-ride massage, receive a finisher’s medal, and dive fork-first into an Italian feast. Registration ranges from $97-$278 for the GranFondo races.

390 Hidden Trails Road, Escondido

Advertisement

EXPO Design Market

June 6 & 7

Tap into cutting-edge worlds of local creativity during the third annual EXPO Design Market at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. This Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., network with fellow arts lovers and check out vinyl DJ sets, maker-led talks, local vendors, a zine workshop, and more. Additionally, festivities will continue each day from 8 p.m. to close during the free 21+ Expo After Dark activation at Kiku Room. Market entry is free for all ages and RSVPs are encouraged, but not mandatory, for both Saturday and Sunday; gallery admission is 50% throughout the weekend when purchased at the front desk.  

700 Prospect Street, La Jolla

PARTNER CONTENT

Inside SeaWorld San Diego’s Mission of Education and Conservation

Inside SeaWorld San Diego’s Mission of Education and Cons…

Why San Diego’s 45+ Community is Choosing Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) 

Why San Diego’s 45+ Community is Choosing Refractive Lens…

Countdown to ’26: International Soccer Weekend at Snapdragon Stadium

June 6 & 7

In less than two weeks, 48 nations will vie for soccer’s most desired prize during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But before the tournament kicks off across North America, Snapdragon Stadium will host a pair of friendly matches showcasing four of the tournament’s featured teams. During International Soccer Weekend, local fans can catch matchups between Switzerland and Australia (Saturday at noon) and Colombia vs. Jordan (Sunday at 4 p.m.) as they prepare to play on the sport’s biggest stage. Tickets start at $55 for Saturday’s match and $74 for Sunday’s match.

2101 Stadium Way, Mission Valley





Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

San Diego, CA

Where to watch San Diego Padres vs Philadelphia Phillies: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02

Published

on

Where to watch San Diego Padres vs Philadelphia Phillies: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02


play

The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.

Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.

Advertisement

The MLB action continues on Tuesday as the San Diego Padres visit the Philadelphia Phillies.

Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.

See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.

What time is San Diego Padres vs Philadelphia Phillies?

First pitch between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, Jun. 02.

How to watch San Diego Padres vs Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday

All times Eastern and accurate as of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.

Advertisement

Watch MLB all season long with Fubo

MLB regional blackout restrictions apply

MLB scores, results

MLB scores for Jun. 02 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:

See scores, results for all of today’s games.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

San Diego, CA

City of San Diego illegally collected millions in parking ticket late fees: Judge

Published

on

City of San Diego illegally collected millions in parking ticket late fees: Judge


A judge has ruled that the city of San Diego illegally collected millions of dollars in parking violation late fees and penalties over the course of about three years, potentially entitling more than 174,000 people to refunds.

The ruling stems from a class-action lawsuit involving parking citations issued within San Diego city limits between Feb. 22, 2022, and March 31, 2025. According to the ruling, the city owes plaintiffs more than $16 million.

The lawsuit alleges the city failed to follow requirements in the California Vehicle Code when issuing notices for parking citations. Under state law, the city must mail an initial notice giving recipients 14 days to pay a parking ticket without penalty.

A judge found that the city instead sent notices with late fees already added, according to the lawsuit.

Advertisement

The lead plaintiff, Toya Hacia-Welch, received a parking ticket in downtown San Diego on Feb. 2, 2022. She claims she never received a paper ticket on her car. A notice of delinquency arrived weeks later on April 6, listing a total amount due of $112.50, including fines and penalties if paid by April 20.

According to the lawsuit filed with the Superior Court of California, the notice did not include the option to pay the base fine of $57.50 within 14 days, as required by law.

According to a joint filing, the lawsuit now includes more than 306,000 citations.

The city of San Diego denies the allegations. The city has not responded to the judge’s ruling nor NBC 7’s request for comment in time for publication.

The city’s website still states: “The court has not determined whether plaintiff or the city are correct. There is no money available now and no guarantee that there will be.”

Advertisement

According to lawsuit documents, the city now (as of April 2025) provides at least 21 days notice before adding penalties, fees or interest to the original ticket amount.

Attorneys representing the more than 170,000 people affected declined to comment.

More information is available on the city of San Diego’s website.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending