OREDIGGER SPOTLIGHT
DYLAN YARGER Dylan Yarger arrived on the Montana Tech campus in August 2020, ready to begin his journey as a student-athlete.
All of Yarger’s dreams were coming true, as the South Anchorage High School graduate traveled from Alaska to Montana to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering and play on the football team. The first year playing for Coach Kyle Samson’s Orediggers was a whirlwind. Yarger spent time in the classroom, on the field, and in the weight room. He began to form lifelong friendships and explore the great Montana outdoors. Unfortunately, things changed during a summer workout going into his sophomore year. While going through an on-field drill during the second week of summer workouts, Yarger hurt his knee. “I had done that drill a million times,” Yarger said. “But this time, something was different.” The pain was excruciating at first, but then went away. He hoped no major damage had been done and he would be back on the field soon. To be safe, Yarger went to Montana Orthopedics and saw orthopedic surgeon and team doctor, Dr. Nick DiGiovine, who ordered an MRI. The results showed Yarger had torn his ACL in his left knee. In July 2021, Dr. DiGiovine surgically repaired his ACL. Yarger rehabbed his
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knee for several months during the COVID pandemic. However, he decided that he did not want to continue to play football and would only focus on his academics. Although he wouldn’t suit up for the Orediggers any longer, he wanted to continue to be a part of Digger Athletics. In the void that was once jam-packed with intense football practice, training, and Saturday games, Yarger started filling his time with another passion: art. He had dabbled in art while in high school, but at Montana Tech, his talent truly revealed itself. Injured student-athletes spend a lot of time with the athletic trainers. During rehab sessions, Yarger began to talk to the trainers about his artwork. The trainers passed the information along to Dr. DiGiovine. In February 2021, Dr. DiGiovine asked Yarger to create an art piece that he and his wife, Judy, could donate to the Digger Auction, which raises money for Digger Athletics. Yarger agreed
and began working on the art. After picking up the supplies he needed, he began working on the most significant piece he has ever completed, which took 80 hours to finish. “I used to work on the painting every spare minute I had. I watched a few YouTube videos. I had never used oil paints before, except maybe elementary school watercolor projects.” He worked on the painting in his home in Butte, in a small corner he made into his art studio. “This was a tremendous learning experience, and now I am completely hooked on oils. I believe this was a pivotal turning point in my art pursuits.” The finished piece, which featured three buffalo on a cold winter day in Montana, was unveiled to a packed crowd during the Digger Auction. Yarger stood next to his work, amazed at the interest from the crowd during the annual event. The auctioneer called out the opening bid for item #10. Paddles rose across the room
excitedly as the auctioneer increased the bid. The piece was a favorite during the evening auction and raised a solid amount for the Orediggers. “I was honored to create something for the Digger Auction. I wanted to create something bigger and better than anything I had done,” Yarger noted. He is currently working on an even larger canvas painting—a 3 foot x 4 foot oil painting of a trout. “I never really put effort into art until I went to college,” said Yarger. “I like it and enjoy working with oils. These projects have given me the confidence that if I put the time in, I can make something look how it should.” Art emerged within Yarger after a tragic experience. It has fueled a passion within him and will become part of his life’s journey as he works towards his degree and graduation in 2024, and a future in the aviation field.
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