VERSAILLES. Ohio — As Spectrum News 1 continues coverage leading up to the OHSAA football championship games, we are taking a trip an hour Northwest of Dayton to Versailles High School.

Not only do the Tigers have a long list of title wins, but a unique legacy between fathers and sons.

What You Need To Know

  • Versailles HS Football has history of state titles

  • Five Dads of current players share common bond of playing on championship teams in the '90s

  • Many of the players have been playing football together since middle school

“Our tiger paws were different, they were huge,” said Brian Griesdorn as he took out his son AJ’s football helmet and looked at it in the locker room.

It’s the first time he’s seen it this season.

Griesdorn played football for Versailles High School from 88 to 91.

A lot has changed.

“Packed locker room, and it probably smells like it for you doesn’t it? But this is awesome,” he said.

Griesdorn has plenty of dad jokes, and he’s not the only one — just the oldest.

He and four other dads can take you down a memory lane filled with state titles from the 90s.

“I think the special thing is watching them. Anything my kids do it’s my focus. It’s what I live for and it’s great that they’re here and it’s great that we get a go and watch them play and play hard. They worked hard and we’re just going to enjoy it,” said Don Waymire.

“It’s very neat to see our boys now getting to play and get some of the same experiences,” Jeff Barga said.

“It’s pretty exciting. They put in a lot of hard work this year. So they’re at this final game and it’s time to get it done. It’s their turn,” added Aaron Bergman.

All five dads have been watching their sons play together for a long time.

“They started with 18 to 20 in the 7th grade and now still sitting at 18. Can’t beat that, just a great group of boys,” Griesdorn said.

“We kind of thought back then, you’re always thinking, these guys could really be pretty decent and go somewhere with it,” said Ben Gilmore.

They’ve watched the young men grow, evolve, and learn to play as a team.

“When one guy does good they all congratulate each other and if somebody makes a mistake they pick each other up together and that’s kind of what we did back in the day. It’s that same mentality of we win together we lose together,” Gilmore said.

As for the players, the drive for a championship has always played some type of role one way or another.

“It’s pretty cool but he always messes around with me because of it and thinks he’s big stuff. I don’t think he is,” said Daniel Waymire with a laugh.

“Dad talks about it quite a bit so it’s kinda funny to see. It’s pretty cool, definitely,” AJ Griesdorn said.

“Not as much as some of these other guys do he doesn’t really mention it that much,” said Dominic Barga.

“He takes a lot of pride in it and it’s cool to see and it brings up the energy a lot,” Lane Bergman said.

“He never put it out in front of me too much so I never felt the pressure from it, but you know deep down I always wanted to be as good as him and have the season they had,” Alex Gilmore added.

The dads say the game has totally changed since the 90s - players are bigger, faster, and the competition level is even higher.

However, when they look around the new field house and locker room that many helped build in different ways, they know their support from the sidelines is something their sons can count on.

“Basically every dad in here can agree it’s so much more nerve-wracking watching our kids play than we ever were when we played. It’s just, you’re shaking for your kids. You want them to succeed,” said Griesdorn.

“I know you’ve heard plenty of it, but it’s not really about what we did, it’s about what you guys are going to do on Friday. Just play your hearts out,” Gilmore said.