The first time Austin Savik met his brother Tamret Savik, it was at an airport.

His parents had just returned home from Ethiopia with adopted siblings. There were stuffed animals, unfamiliar faces and a lot to take in at once. 

“I remember that night, Tamret cried a lot,” Austin said, smiling. “He didn’t speak English, so it was just weird.” 

What neither of them could have understood in that moment was how quickly that unfamiliar beginning would turn into something permanent. Over time, the lines blurred. Teammates became brothers. Brothers became best friends. 

“Honestly, he’s always been my brother,” Austin said. “I don’t really remember anything different.” 

The Saviks grew up the way most kids in Bigfork do — outside, moving and competing. Neighborhood games of tag turned into football. Hide-and-seek turned into basketball. Before long, those games turned into organized seasons, roles and expectations. 

“When we were younger, I was definitely better than him,” Austin chuckled. “That’s changed a little bit now.” 

Tamret just smiles at that: “We try to be better than each other in everything, it keeps us working,” he said. 

That quiet competition has followed them through their careers as multi-sport athletes at Bigfork. In the fall, Austin made his impact primarily at tight end, hauling in 394 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Tamret contributed on both sides of the ball as a wide receiver and defensive back, finishing with 185 receiving yards and four touchdowns, as both brothers earned honorable mention all-conference recognition. 

Bigfork offensive coordinator Connor Coleman said coaching the Savik brothers was a privilege. 

“Both are extremely competitive and want to be their best,” Coleman said. “Austin is one of the top athletes on the field, and finding ways to get him the ball against double coverage was a fun challenge. Tamret’s growth and confidence stood out. Nobody outworked him, and he was a vocal leader. Both were key pieces in helping us reach the playoffs in our first two years in Class A.” 

That same edge carried into the winter, where both played key roles for a Bigfork basketball team that finished 11-9. 

Austin led the way, earning first-team all-conference honors this season after being an all-state selection a year ago. He averaged 16.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, serving as a steady presence on both ends of the floor. Tamret complemented him with 7.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, earning honorable mention all-conference recognition while bringing athleticism and versatility that often didn’t show up in the box score. 

Bigfork basketball coach John Hollow said the brothers left their mark. 

“The Savik brothers are great competitors, and we’re going to miss having them in our program,” Hollow said. “They’re both extremely athletic and talented, but what stands out most is how hard they work at their craft.” 

Long before the games and the stats, the brothers relationship grew in the mountains. 

The Savik family spent years hiking, putting in miles together — often with Austin and Tamret drifting ahead of the group. 

“We’d kind of just went off on our own,” Austin said. “Talk, hike, just be out there, that was a big part and I think it brought us closer.” 

Now, as seniors balancing three sports and packed schedules, those moments are harder to find. But the impact remains — especially when things don’t go the way they hoped. 

Both brothers are quick to admit their football and basketball seasons didn’t match expectations. 

“It was disappointing,” Austin said. “We didn’t reach our potential and I really wish we could have.” 

For Tamret, it’s fuel. 

“We didn’t really have any big achievements,” he said. “That definitely motivates me.” 

That motivation has carried into the spring. 

For Tamret, the growth is measurable. He set a personal-best of 47 feet, 8 inches in the triple jump at last Saturday’s Iceberg Invitational — a mark that ranks first in the state. His versatility shows across events, too, clearing 6-4 in the high jump during the indoor season and reaching 21-10.5 in the long jump this spring at the Libby Invitational. 

Austin’s goals are set high this track season after an impressive junior year. He posted a personal-best 39.80 in the 300-meter hurdles at the Nelson-Thomas ABC meet last season, then followed it up at the Class A state meet by placing third in the 110 hurdles — where he also ran a personal-best 15.33 — and second in the 300s. 

They’ve both been close before. Tamret finished second in the triple jump at state last year, took fourth in the high jump at six feet and placed eighth in the long jump — results that continue to drive him. Austin is chasing that same breakthrough, while also helping a Bigfork four-by-100 relay team that set a school record of 42.87 at Tuesday’s Top 10 meet — a time that ranks first in Class A and fifth in Montana. 

With the Bigfork Invitational set for Saturday, both brothers are entering the heart of the track season with something to prove — not just to others, but to themselves. 

Their paths could soon split. Tamret has his sights set on jumping at the next level, with hopes of competing at Montana State University before chasing something bigger. Austin’s future is still unfolding, with opportunities across multiple sports. 

But when they talk about what they want to leave behind, it isn’t framed in stats or records. 

“I want people to see us as a dynamic duo,” Tamret said. “Good people, hardworking.” 

In a small town like Bigfork, those traits matter. 

Because long after the points, touchdowns and the jumps fade, what others remember most isn’t who won — it’s who you did it with and why. 

And for the Savik brothers, that answer has never changed. 

Reporter Luke Schmit can be reached at 406-758-4441 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.