On Monday, April 21, eight Dryden High School athletes, accompanied by Athletic Director Brian Tresnak and Head Varsity Football Coach Hunter Gall, attended a meeting of the Detroit Economic Club at the MotorCity Casino Hotel.
Tresnak understands the importance of attending events like this. “Attending the Detroit Economic Club luncheon and speaker panel was an incredible opportunity for our student-athletes and coaching staff. I was proud to accompany seven of our outstanding athletes to the event, alongside our head football Coach Hunter Gall. It was inspiring to watch our students engage with leaders from the business community and hear firsthand how leadership, perseverance, and teamwork extend far beyond the playing field,” he said.
“Events like this,” Tresnak continued, “ give our student-athletes a broader view of the world and reinforce the values we strive to instill every day—discipline, integrity, and the pursuit of excellence. The speakers’ stories provided real-world insight into how the skills developed through sports can be applied to future careers and community leadership. We’re grateful to the Detroit Economic Club for welcoming our students and for fostering such a powerful learning experience. These are the types of moments that shape young minds and build a stronger connection between education, athletics, and the future of our community.”
Brad Galli, WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Sports Director, moderated a panel discussion, which included Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press Lions Reporter; Will Burchfield, 97.1 The Ticket Sports Writer; Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic Senior Writer & NFL Draft Analyst; and Rod Wood, Detroit Lions President.
Sophomore Luke Taylor gained valuable knowledge at the event. “I really enjoyed the Detroit Economic Club meeting,” Taylor commented. “Meeting Detroit Lions President Rod Wood was a fun experience. We learned a lot about the NFL draft and who the Lions have their eyes on for the upcoming season.”
Echoing the sentiment, junior Ian Tresnak reflected, “It was a good way to learn about the business side of the Detroit Lions. It was extremely fun to hear the NFL draft analysis from experienced people.” Dryden senior Owen Gall will take a lesson from the event into his future. “I learned”, Gall said, “if you are passionate about something, the best way to get started in that career is experience, even if it doesn’t pay the best.”
All student-athletes who attended had one comment in common when they contemplated their experience. “The best thing about the event was the lunch and how much good food there was,” observed sophomore Santiago Perales.
Dryden students Logan Korth, Adam Cooper, and Callum Brown also attended the event.
According to their website, the Detroit Economic Club (DEC) was formed in 1934 as a non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to the discussion and debate of important business, government, and social issues. Fortune 100 CEOs and top government officials continue to deliver thought leadership on our dynamic world from the DEC’s storied podium.
