The word is printed on team clothing and is one of the hashtags used in the Orediggers team’s social media posts.

For the Torgerson brothers – Kody, Kyle and Levi – it is family in the truest sense of the word.

Kyle, a senior, and Levi, a junior, are both wide receivers for Tech. Kody is the Diggers’ defensive end/edge coach and was a wide receiver for the team before retiring for medical reasons and joining the coaching staff in 2021.

With Kyle entering his final season, the 2024 season is expected to be the last time the Torgerson brothers will be part of the same team, working toward the same goal.

They make sure that they absorb everything.

“It’s really special to be here with these guys. You don’t see many brothers on the same team as players and coaches,” Levi said. “We’re just looking forward to one last ride together.”

Before senior year, the Torgersons were never all on the same team. Because of their age difference, no more than two of them ever shared a team during their high school sports careers at Great Falls High.

And before last season, Levi hadn’t played football at Tech. Injuries in the Diggers’ wide receiver room – including Kyle, who missed all but two games in 2023 – prompted Levi to join the football team in addition to his duties as point guard for the Tech basketball team. In his first football season since his senior year with the Bison in 2020, he had 28 catches for 428 yards and three touchdowns.

Both Kyle and Levi enter the season healthy, and with Kody on the bench, all three brothers appreciate the opportunity to play together on a Tech team looking to make the NAIA playoffs for the second consecutive year.

“There are no two guys I’d rather be with,” Kyle said. “Off the field, we do everything together and they both helped me a lot with everything last year. That’s special.”

As the oldest, Kody has always played the role of big brother. Now he serves dual roles as brother and coach.

“Obviously, on the field I’m the coach, but off the field they’re my brothers,” Kody said. “When one of them scores a touchdown or makes a big play, I’m the biggest cheerleader in the press box.”

“It’s pretty cool to see my two little brothers out there.”

Sports have always been the foundation of the close bond between the Torgerson brothers. All three have a long list of successes in football, basketball and track that stretches back to their high school days.

They have supported each other throughout their athletic careers and have traveled across Montana to attend each other’s games.

Today, the trio still maintains their competitive spirit by spending their free time together on the golf course.

“Sports have always been at the heart of everything,” Levi said. “We’re pretty competitive in everything we do.”

The brothers love spending this chapter of their lives together in Butte, but perhaps no one is enjoying it more than their parents, Brion – who once played football at Tech under his own name – and Tammy.

According to the brothers, their parents never miss a game.

“They’re here about nine out of the twelve months of the year,” Kody joked.

“They are here for every single game. They are definitely our biggest supporters,” Levi added.

Two Torgersons on the field could cause problems for opposing teams in 2024. After playing in only the Diggers’ final two games last year, Kyle – a second-team all-conference player in 2022 – is ready for his final season.

And with Levi now entering his second year with the team after a short break from football, the two brothers are eager to be back on the field together.

“Last year was tough,” Kyle said. “Obviously I wanted to be out there with my little brother. But it was just fun being in the slot together. I think it opens up some opportunities for our offense.”

Tech’s players and coaches have fully embraced the “family” mantra. For the Torgerson brothers, it has a deeper meaning.