076: John Martin

Legends never die. Their stories live on through the people they inspired.New Jersey Mat Chat is proud to present the first installment of Legends Never Die, honoring the life and legacy of Johnny Martin, the 1992 New Jersey State Champion from Absegami High School.Johnny Martin's life was cut far too short, but more than three decades after he won his New Jersey state championship, the wrestlers who competed against him, trained beside him and grew up watching him still remember.That's a legacy.Legends Never Die.🤼 Johnny Martin🏫 Absegami High School — Class of 1992🏆 1992 New Jersey State Champion📈 123-8 High School Record⭐ Oklahoma State Wrestling00:00 Legends Never Die: The Story of Johnny Martin01:05 1992 State Final: Johnny Martin vs. Jay Nase02:04 Jay Nase Remembers His State Finals Opponent03:36 “He Was Lightning Fast”05:49 The Heart & Work Ethic Wrestling Reveals07:37 One Word for Johnny: Speed09:15 How Johnny’s Passing Affected Jay Nase11:12 Johnny’s Brother Joe Martin12:41 How Johnny Got Started in Wrestling14:45 Meeting John Smith in Seventh Grade15:28 Johnny’s Dream: Oklahoma State16:51 His College Career & Leaving Oklahoma State17:58 The Back Injury That Changed Everything19:55 Doctors Tell Johnny His Wrestling Career Is Over20:40 The Cancer Diagnosis22:19 Fighting Cancer & Returning to the Wrestling Room23:42 The Conversations Between Two Brothers24:36 “The Closest Thing I Have to Having My Own”25:03 One Word for Johnny: Driven26:48 A Surprise Call With John Smith28:48 John Smith Remembers Johnny Martin31:31 Why NJ Wrestlers Fit at Oklahoma State32:50 The Malatesta Family & an Incredible Wrestling Story35:40 A Young Johnny Idolizes Bobby Malatesta Jr.36:52 Bobby Wins the 1985 NJ State Championship37:21 The Medal That Changed Johnny’s Life38:12 Johnny Fulfills the Promise39:13 Honoring Johnny After His Passing41:36 The Two State Championship Medals42:28 “I Knew That Was Going to Be His Day”43:41 One Word for Johnny: Determined44:51 Sean Scannell: The Next Generation at Absegami46:43 How Johnny Paved the Way48:12 Remembering the Day Johnny Passed49:29 Carrying Johnny’s Memory Into College50:39 One Word for Johnny: Innovator52:55 Teammate Bernie Tenet Remembers Johnny53:46 Visiting Johnny During His Battle With Cancer55:07 Johnny’s Oklahoma State Dream55:58 One Word for Johnny: Awesome57:45 George Florence Remembers His Teammate59:21 Watching Johnny Win the 1992 State Title01:01:09 Visiting Johnny at Oklahoma State01:04:24 Learning From the Best Wrestlers in the World01:06:47 Johnny Martin vs. Cary Kolat01:09:06 One Word for Johnny: Elite01:10:25 Kathy Barber Remembers Johnny01:12:48 Johnny’s Letters From College01:13:26 Their AOL Instant Messenger Conversations01:14:02 “The Fastest Ankle Pick I’ve Ever Seen”01:14:21 Johnny & Legendary Coach Gene Barber01:15:09 One Word for Johnny: Humble01:17:55 Thank You to the Martin Family01:18:22 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro