According the Webster's dictionary a coach is ,"an athletic instructor or trainer." Ask Brayden Reeves and he'll tell you his coach is so much more.
"He's the best coach of all time I should say," Reeves said.
Reeves is an incredibly intelligent 17-year-old and an incredibly fast swimmer. He's on the autism spectrum and his school for students with learning differences doesn't have a swim team. So be thought his dream of lettering in his favorite sport would never come true.
That's where Coach Jeremy Martin at Centennial High School in Burleson comes in. Coach Martin had worked with Brayden in a Summer league and saw the teens passion for swimming.
"This is a sport that gets overlooked and every child who wants to swim should be able to," Martin said.
So Martin and Brayden's mother Tina Rider worked together to great their very own team of one. Coach Martin brought Brayden in to swim with his students at Centennial and Brayden's mom helped coordinate different meets for her son.
"I just want that for him and it means so much," Rider said.
Bringing Brayden on board requires more work for the coach with no additional pay. The result however is a teenager literally living his dream.
"I don't think coach Martin realizes just how amazing he is. This is everyday for him but it's not everyday for us. It's really life changing," Rider said.
Brayden contacted WFAA to tell them about Coach Martin for Daybreak's new series "Rise and Shiners." The coach had no idea he's be publicly thanked and the reveal brought tears to his eyes.
"I'm speechless," Martin said.
The Texas Rangers also heard about the swim coach's good work and sent Martin tickets to a Rangers game.
If you know of a "Rise and Shiner" and would like to nominate them to be recognized fill out the form at wfaa.com/riseandshiners