On July 30, 2025, Gaylord played host to a 7‑on‑7 football showcase that brought together squads from Vestaburg and Roscommon, offering a rare glimpse into the offseason work of two of the area’s most promising programs.
Gaylord’s Young Guns Aim to Defy Expectations
The Green and White have not taken the field in 266 days, and with the 2026 campaign looming in just 27 days, head coach Matt Silsbury says the team is already ahead of where it was a year ago. The loss of key playmakers — Kaven Cole, Jaron Bensinger, Kelsen Snyder, Aythen Kent, Grayson Glazier, Landon Wolf and Mason Silsby — has forced a rapid infusion of younger talent, but Silsbury believes the new roster is clicking faster than expected.
Meanwhile, Gaylord St. Mary (GSM) enters the season with a rare degree of continuity. Almost every starter from the previous year returns, positioning the team as an early contender in the Bridge Alliance Conference. Coach Kevin O’Connell, whose focus is on cultivating leadership among a youthful core, praised the emergence of players such as Nathan O’Connell and Cal Royce during the recent drills.
Leadership Takes Center Stage at GSM
Highlight moments came from Eli Switalski, Joe Jacobson and Cash Wcisel, whose big plays on both sides of the ball hinted at the explosiveness that could carry the team beyond last season’s postseason run. The competition served not only as a testing ground for schemes but also as a laboratory for the leadership lessons O’Connell hopes will translate into game‑day poise.
As the countdown to the first regular‑season snap continues, both programs are using the 7‑on‑7 format to fine‑tune chemistry, evaluate replacements and build the intangible qualities that often separate contenders from champions. For Gaylord, the challenge is to preserve a title defense despite a depleted lineup; for GSM, the mission is to translate early promise into deeper playoff runs.