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 Wrestling 00:00 Legends Never Die: The Story of Johnny Martin 01:05 1992 State Final: Johnny Martin vs. Jay Nase 02:04 Jay Nase Remembers His State Finals Opponent 03:36 “He Was Lightning Fast” 05:49 The Heart & Work Ethic Wrestling Reveals 07:37 One Word for Johnny: Speed 09:15 How Johnny’s Passing Affected Jay Nase 11:12 Johnny’s Brother Joe Martin 12:41 How Johnny Got Started in Wrestling 14:45 Meeting John Smith in Seventh Grade 15:28 Johnny’s Dream: Oklahoma State 16:51 His College Career & Leaving Oklahoma State 17:58 The Back Injury That Changed Everything 19:55 Doctors Tell Johnny His Wrestling Career Is Over 20:40 The Cancer Diagnosis 22:19 Fighting Cancer & Returning to the Wrestling Room 23:42 The Conversations Between Two Brothers 24:36 “The Closest Thing I Have to Having My Own” 25:03 One Word for Johnny: Driven 26:48 A Surprise Call With John Smith 28:48 John Smith Remembers Johnny Martin 31:31 Why NJ Wrestlers Fit at Oklahoma State 32:50 The Malatesta Family & an Incredible Wrestling Story 35:40 A Young Johnny Idolizes Bobby Malatesta Jr. 36:52 Bobby Wins the 1985 NJ State Championship 37:21 The Medal That Changed Johnny’s Life 38:12 Johnny Fulfills the Promise 39:13 Honoring Johnny After His Passing 41:36 The Two State Championship Medals 42:28 “I Knew That Was Going to Be His Day” 43:41 One Word for Johnny: Determined 44:51 Sean Scannell: The Next Generation at Absegami 46:43 How Johnny Paved the Way 48:12 Remembering the Day Johnny Passed 49:29 Carrying Johnny’s Memory Into College 50:39 One Word for Johnny: Innovator 52:55 Teammate Bernie Tenet Remembers Johnny 53:46 Visiting Johnny During His Battle With Cancer 55:07 Johnny’s Oklahoma State Dream 55:58 One Word for Johnny: Awesome 57:45 George Florence Remembers His Teammate 59:21 Watching Johnny Win the 1992 State Title 01:01:09 Visiting Johnny at Oklahoma State 01:04:24 Learning From the Best Wrestlers in the World 01:06:47 Johnny Martin vs. Cary Kolat 01:09:06 One Word for Johnny: Elite 01:10:25 Kathy Barber Remembers Johnny 01:12:48 Johnny’s Letters From College 01:13:26 Their AOL Instant Messenger Conversations 01:14:02 “The Fastest Ankle Pick I’ve Ever Seen” 01:14:21 Johnny & Legendary Coach Gene Barber 01:15:09 One Word for Johnny: Humble 01:17:55 Thank You to the Martin Family 01:18:22 New Jersey Mat Chat Outro