2022 VGL San Diego Sports Festival

SAN DIEGO SPORTS FESTIVAL 2022

2022 VGL SPECIAL EDITION | www.CompeteNetwork.com

VARSITY GAY LEAGUE SAN DIEGO SPORTS FESTIVAL

Tournament Director • Will Hackner • 917-806-1597 Tournament Co-Director • Andrew Gusz Miller • 310-990-8554 KICKBALL POD MANAGERS Kickball Director • Justin Wieging • 425-772-3647 Womxn Kickball Director • Kate Josey • 954-299-1243 Carlos Salazar (San Diego Based) • 562-248-8239 Armond Dorsey • 213-800-1787 Brendan Chang • 916-470-0668 Chaz Goodwine • 406-223-3973 DODGEBALL CO-DIRECTORS Emily Coyle • 720-413-3623 Brendon Butler • 607-434-2449

PUBLISHER Eric Carlyle, SDLT • eric@competenetwork.com

DIRECTOR OF SALES & PARTNERSHIPS Trayer Martinez, SDLT • trayer@competenetwork.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Connie Wardman, SDLT • connie@competenetwork.com

Uniting the World Through Sports TM

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SOCCER DIRECTOR Fatih Koc • 347-605-3874 TENNIS DIRECTOR Nathan Frizzell • 818-335-0863 EVENTS COORDINATORS Brendan Chang • 916-470-0668 Jenny Portillo • 213-864-3191 Ben (Joshua) Bolivar • 619-581-0075 Emily Coyle • 720-413-3623

All mail: PO Box 2756 Scottsdale, AZ 85252 Corporate Office: 6991 E Camelback Rd Ste D-300 Scottsdale, AZ 85251 800-489-1274 © Copyright 2022 Media Out Loud, LLC All Rights Reserved

2022 SPECIAL EDITION

7 WELCOME • From Andrew Gusz Miller | Director of Operations 8 EVENT SCHEDULE AND INFORMATION 10 VGL HAS COME A LONG WAY 12 5 THINGS TO DO IN SAN DIEGO 15 THANK YOU

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY Cap Phoenix LTD • caphoenixltd.com • sales@caphoenixltd.com • 619-571-3241 Hillcrest Brewing Company • hillcrestbrewingcompany.com • 619-269-HEAD Number One Fifth Avenue • numberonefifth.com • 619-299-1911 Cruise Planners • martindaletravelandtours.com • amartindale@cruiseplanners.com • 619-879-3601 Petnetwork LLC • petnetwork.me • petnetwork@me.com • 915-491-5548 Family Health Centers of San Diego • gaymenshealth.com • 619-8764462

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COMPETE | 2022 VGL SPECIAL EDITION

WELCOME HELLO! Let me be the first to welcome you to Varsity Gay League’s Sports Festival!

This is such a special time of the year where players across the country come together for an intimate weekend of fun and play. Our incredible staff and volunteers have generously given their time and effort to make your time with us iconic with kickball, dodgeball, soccer, and tennis games complimented with a jam packed schedule to party together. If you meet one of our staff members and volunteers, please let them know they’re doing a fantastic job - I know it would mean a lot to them.

Now… we can all acknowledge we are all here this weekend because we all enjoy playing sports, but I know you came here for more than that. VGL has always been about collaborating together to create a fun and supportive community that you and anyone else can say is theirs. Moreover, it is here where the first day of playing with us is also the first day you become part of our family. In this community we collaborate with a generosity in kindness. For a weekend like this, I hope you find it typical to cheer for the other team, to reach out to strangers and to become friends, and for you to feel that you belong. This special place has been built for you to show us who you are… generously.

Lastly, it often goes without saying that our members are such an inspiration for us to do what we do. With this in mind, I must mention we recently lost one of our biggest inspirations and a true North Star in the community, Kimberly Eaton. In honor of her memory, I ask you to hug each other a little tighter like she did, smile a little brighter like she did, and to laugh a little harder like she did. May her spirit continue to live through us as a new tradition to live and play outloud.

Sincerely,

ANDREW GUSZ MILLER Director of Operations • Varsity Gay League

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EVENT SCHEDULE THURSDAY | SEPT 1 8 pm – 11 pm

Gossip Grill and Flicks

FRIDAY | SEPT 2 5 pm – 7 pm

Team Check In at Lafayette Hotel All teams are required to pick up their tournament gear Limited guest wristbands available for purchase (while supplies last)

8:30 pm – midnight VGL Shuttle Bus Drops off at Rich’s • Loops every 30 minutes 8 pm – midnight

Rich’s Welcome Party

SATURDAY | SEPT 3

Tournaments 11 am – 4 pm

TENNIS at North Park Recreation Center

10 am – 5 pm

KICKBALL at Golden Hill Recreation Center

11 am – 6 pm

KICKBALL at North Park Recreation Center

11 am – 4 pm

SOCCER at City Heights Recreation Center

10 am – 5 pm

DODGEBALL at Golden Hill Recreation Center

Saturday Night Parties 8:30 pm – midnight VGL Shuttle Bus Drops off at Flicks • Loops every 30 minutes 8 pm – 11 pm

Flicks Saturday Night

8 pm – 11 pm

Gossip Grill (Womxn)

11:30 pm – 3 am

Late Night at Rich’s

SUNDAY | SEPT 4

Tournament Finals 11 am –3:30 pm

TENNIS at North Park Recreation Center

10:30 am – 4:30 pm KICKBALL at Morley Field 11 am – 3 pm

SOCCER at City Heights Recreation Center

11 am – 4 pm

DODGEBALL at Golden Hill Recreation Center

Closing Party 5:30 pm – 8 pm

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Pool Party and Event at Lafayette Hotel provided by 1800 Tequila Swimming, Music, Drinks • Trophies & Medals Awarded

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EVENT LOCATIONS AND INFORMATION TOURNAMENT LOCATIONS North Park Recreation Center 4044 Idaho St, San Diego, CA 92104 CONATCT: Tianna David • Tdavid@sandiego.gov • 619-235-1152 Golden Hill Recreation Center 2600 Golf Course Dr, San Diego, CA 92102 CONATCT: Marvin Bodilla • 619-235-1138 • mbobadilla@sandiego.gov City Heights Recreation Center 4380 Landis St, San Diego, CA 92105 CONATCT: Nayelli Juarez • 619-641-6125 • njuarez@sandiego.gov Morley Field 2221 Morley Field Drive, San Diego, CA 92104 CONATCT: Oscar Gideon Eusebio • OEusebio@sandiego.gov • 619-525-8264

LAFAYETTE HOTEL 2223 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92104 CONATCT: Lisa Kanemori • 619-780-0360

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SAN DIEGO SPORTS FESTIVAL 2022

By Connie Wardman, M.A., SDLT • she/her

VGL Has Come a Long Way FOUNDED IN 2007 by Will Hackner, VGL launched with a simple game of capture the flag. In 2010, it launched its signature sport, kickball, for the gay sports community.

The organization now represents over 44,000 members of the queer and allied athletic community across the United States. VGL offers numerous sports in multiple cities for queer+ athletes, allies, and so much more. Now grown to 23 cities, Will is very sensitive to evolving with current trends to meet the needs of individuals who may feel a need to change how they self-identify.

Originally, the term gay in VGL was interpreted to include everyone in a respectful manner but as the community grew, the use of LGBTQIA+ seemed more appropriate.

And now, by adopting the term queer (once a horrible slur) VGL has embraced the constantly evolving culture. Within that community, VGL has increased its focus to recognize those in the BIPOC and two-spirit communities as well as those who identify as non-binary or gender fluid and more. VGL see’s itself as an umbrella to unite the queer and allied communities for the love of sports.

Over the years Will has tirelessly worked to grow VGL by adding new sports to its signature kickball leagues and to add new multi-sport tournaments. At the same time he’s also been deeply involved in bettering the queer community in a wide variety of projects and elected roles. He’s a “guy on the go!”

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COMPETE | 2022 VGL SPECIAL EDITION

VGL now represents over 40,000 members of the Queer and Allied athletic community across the U.S. These 23 VGL locations across the nation really are safe communities for queer and ally athletes. Members can choose to play in their community’s sports offerings and local fun activities, all under the umbrella of VGL. The reason that these disparate individuals can come together for a fun afternoon or for a tournament weekend and just have fun is in large part, thanks to ... oh, wait – have you noticed that “fun” seems to be used a lot here?

It’s because everyone is welcome, from the pro and college athletes; to the gamers; to the wallflowers – it’s about social sports – you just need to be willing to play.

The reason these VGL communities work so well is thanks to Will’s long time Director of Operations, Andrew Gusz Miller. Rather than utilizing volunteers to lead their cities, each VGL group is run by a paid General Manager who sets and maintains a welcoming environment for a diverse group of members and runs the activities for that particular city.

Each league essentially develops its own local culture, and Andrew is the man in charge of the process; he makes sure that each of the 23 leagues not only follow the VGL rules but also are able to maintain the unique culture of each community. And as VGL continues to grow, Tommy Otterbine (formerly of Stonewall Sports) has been hired to work alongside Andrew in this all important mission.

Always working to grow VGL, Will’s goal for next year is to increase more multi-sport tournaments in new locations while elevating current events in Seattle, Buffalo, Las Vegas, and Orlando, in an effort to bring the best and lowest priced multi-sport tournaments to areas across the nation.

And in a “Stay Tuned: News at 11” moment, Will says to watch for some exciting announcements coming up. What is it? Big Changes! It will definitely involve VGL, the Queer+ community, social sports, acceptance, and of course, FUN! www.CompeteNetwork.com | COMPETE

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5 THINGS TO DO IN SAN DIEGO Courtesy of San Diego Tourism Authority • sandiego.org

#1 | BEACHES Head to San Diego’s many beaches, which are consistently ranked among the top in the nation. The beaches are all free to the public, to swim, body surf or hang ten. Build a sand castle, relax with a good book or just bask in the sun – you won’t be disappointed.

Encinitas Beach

La Jolla Cove

#2 | LA JOLLA COVE & CORONADO BEACH Visit La Jolla Cove and witness magnificent sunsets over the ocean. The Cove, a spectacular pocket beach nestled into La Jolla’s rocky bluffs, was ranked No. 9 in Tripadvisor’s Best Beaches Awards for 2022. Or stretch out on the expansive golden sands of Coronado Beach, flanked by the elegant Hotel del Coronado and the glittering Pacific. The gorgeous setting earned Coronado a No. 15 ranking on Tripadvisor’s Best Beaches list.

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COMPETE | 2022 VGL SPECIAL EDITION

#3 | ARTS AND CULTURE Take in the sights and sounds of San Diego’s vibrant arts and culture scene. The San Diego Symphony regularly offers rehearsals that are free and open to the public at the stunning new Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, set along the waterfront west of the San Diego Convention Center. And in La Jolla, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego — now open again after a dazzling rebuild — is free on the second Sunday and third Thursday of each month.

RIGHT: Niki de Saint Phalle’s 1968 sculpture, “Madame, or Green Nana with Black Bag” at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

#4 | GASLAMP QUARTER Explore the sprawling Gaslamp Quarter, a nationally recognized historic district and the lively epicenter of San Diego’s Downtown. Check out such landmarks as the DavisHorton House, the area’s oldest surviving structure, which was brought around Cape Horn from Maine in 1850 and reassembled here. Take time to admire what the Gaslamp Quarter Foundation calls the largest collection of restored Victorian office buildings this side of the Mississippi, and walk what was once the home turf of such memorable figures as the Old West lawman Wyatt Earp. And discover such modern wonders as the “Flame Flower” sculpture in front of the Westin Gaslamp Quarter hotel — and of course the impressive edifice that is Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres and named by USA Today as the No. 1 ballpark in America.

#5 | THE WONDERFRONT

Embracing Peace

Stroll along San Diego’s Embarcadero for hours of free entertainment, shopping and more. Enjoy a laid-back day of hanging out in the grass and watching the many passing yachts and ships on picturesque San Diego Bay, or take in the sights from one of the many bay-view benches and walkways. And don’t miss the numerous public artworks — including the towering and playful “Embracing Peace,” which sits just south of the massive USS Midway Museum. It’s all part of The Wonderfront, San Diego’s “largest attraction,” with 27 miles of bayside parks, marinas, shops, restaurants, promenades and bikeways.

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Your LGBTQ Cruise Travel Specialist Adam Martindale

“I offer a wealth of knowledge to personalize your onboard and land experience and know most ports of call throughout the world!”

CONTACT ME AT: amartindale@cruiseplanners.com

This is an LGBTQ group cruise. Not a full-ship charter.

congratulates

VGL ON 15 YEARS

of sports excellence for the queer community!

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THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS

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