[1] His mother passed one week after he was born and contracted polio as an infant, leaving his left leg disabled.

As an adult he suffered from post polio syndrome from overuse of his healthy muscles and became depressed until at his wife’s urging tried disabled sports.

He was introduced to the sport of sled hockey in 1991 by a local club in Minnesota and after playing for one season he received an invitation to attend the 1992 U.S. National Team Trials in which he was selected starting goaltender.

As a member of the US Paralympic Team, which participated at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah ‐ Manny stopped Norway’s final three shots in a shootout preserving a 4‐3 victory and crowning Team USA champions of the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games and winning a Gold medal.

He's won 5 World Series titles in wheelchair softball as a member of the St. Paul Saints 1991-2011 and Rolling Twins 2011-present.