Martin will always carry the love and fond memories of Greene, his stepson, who died last September after being struck by a vehicle near Houston. The 39-year-old was head wrestling coach at Seckman High from 2006 to 2015 and led the Jaguars to the first three state trophies in the history of the program – fourth place in 2011 and 2015 and third place in 2012.
But Martin also has one of Greene’s kidneys, transplanted in 2006.
On Saturday at Seckman, Greene was honored by family, friends, former teammates, coaches and wrestlers he’d coached as the school renamed its annual boys wrestling tournament the Cody Greene Memorial Tournament.
Martin was a head coach himself at St. Charles West, winning four state Class 3 championships (1995-97 and 1999) and later served as Greene’s assistant. Greene was the first state champion (in any sport) in Seckman history, winning the Class 3A 135-pound championship in 2000. After graduating from Seckman that year, he wrestled at the University of Missouri for four years.
As if all those connections weren’t enough, Martin is married to Greene’s mother, Karen. He served as one of the referees at Saturday’s tournament.
“That’s the testament to the type of person he was,” Martin said about Greene’s willingness to help him through a health crisis that had lingered for years until the transplant. “It was tough to do and he had no hesitation. I thank God every day, and my lucky stars, that I was able to keep (the kidney). It’s worked perfectly.
“All of the people who came out (on Saturday) are a tribute to Cody and how great he was. He was a people person.”
Having coached dozens of state medalists and state champions, Martin has a keen eye for talent on the mat. He said Greene had a lot of skill and talent and he used it to his advantage.
“He had phenomenal speed,” Martin said. “He could be from point A point to B in half a second. He’d be in on people’s legs before they knew what happened.
“He (also) had great balance. He was a good mat wrestler as well. He had a lot of the disciplines you need to be great.”
Greene’s wrestling career began in the Fox Little League, coached by Frank Valleroy Sr., who handed him off to Steve Alden for his freshman year at Fox High. Three generations of Valleroys were on hand to help honor Greene on Saturday. Frankie Jr., Greene’s teammate at Seckman High, was the second Jaguar to claim a state title, winning at 135 pounds in 2001. Frankie III wrestles in the little league program, where his dad helps coach.
Frankie Jr. had been Greene’s wrestling partner since little league and finished second in the state the year Greene won. The next year, Frankie Jr. was facing a wrestler he’d beaten only once in dozens of matches. It was for a state title.
“I remember that day quite a bit,” Frankie Jr. said. “Cody was wrestling at Mizzou at the time. One of my fondest memories was Cody winning state the year before I did. My senior year, (Seckman head coach Jeff Taylor) took us out for lunch before the final, and I remember being nervous about wrestling a guy who had beaten me so many times. Cody came back and went to lunch (with us) and it meant a lot to me. He calmed my nerves, got me ready to go and I went out there and handled my business. He didn’t have to take time to do that, but that was the kind of person he was.”
Frank Jr.’s nephews, John and Wyatt Bamvakais, wrestle for the varsity Jaguars at 138 and 145. He said he hopes to watch his son wrestle for Seckman one day. For now, he was just happy to be a part of remembering Cody.
“He was a good guy, light-hearted, fun to be around, a hell of a good teammate, friend and a great coach,” Frankie Jr. said. “I hope my son wrestles here. I’ll be here.”
Frank Sr. said he gave Greene a nickname the first time he saw him wrestle.
“He was ‘The Natural,’” Frank Sr. said. “It’s a high compliment. He was very intelligent and he had uncanny quickness.
“He was a great guy, good role model. There wasn’t anything not to like. He was a great coach. He poured his heart into it.”
Alden said all of the little league coaches who saw Greene said the same thing: Wait until you get this guy.
“If you met Cody, you felt like he was your best friend,” Alden said. “That’s a guy who I loved as a kid, but as an adult became my best friend. He was the best man in my wedding when I got remarried. If you asked him to run a marathon, he’d say, ‘I’ll go,’ even if he hadn’t trained for it.”
As the crowd gathered in the Seckman gym to watch the tournament, Trent Melton, a 2008 Seckman graduate who wrestled for Greene, brought his sons, 9 and 3, into the Jaguar wrestling room. There the names of the past state champions and medal winners are painted on the wall, including Melton’s. Like Frankie Jr., he is eager to see his sons wrestle at Seckman someday.
“I wrestled with (Greene) every day at practice the two years he was my coach,” Melton said. “He taught us so many things he brought from Mizzou, which was a completely different experience. The moves were much more technical. He enjoyed scrambling and rolling around.”
Greene’s wife, Heather, and young daughter, Ellie, were showered with love and attention during Saturday’s ceremony. Many people in attendance held young children of their own as they caught up with old friends.
It was clear to see, Cody’s spirit is alive and well in those who knew him best.