Photo of Cody Gardner by The Roanoke Times.

Cody Gardner, one of the greatest high school wrestlers in Timesland history, was remembered Tuesday as someone who was as soft-spoken off the mat as he was ferocious on it.“He was truly a gentle giant,” said Virginia Tech wrestling coach Kevin Dresser, who coached Gardner at Christiansburg High School and in college. “He was a pretty special guy.”Gardner, a three-time Timesland wrestler of the year, four-time state champion and a former national champ, died Friday of an apparent drug overdose at the age of 28, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.Gardner, who had been living in New Jersey, returned to Montgomery County last week to spend a couple of weeks in the area, said former teammate Matt Epperly.According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Gardner’s body was discovered Friday morning at a home in Shawsville by a friend who had been with him at the house. A deputy arrived at the home after the friend notified the police.