New Mexico Activities Association
Student-Athlete Spotlight
A Special Bond between Two Amazing People
By Tyler Dunkel, NMAA Sports Information Director
A simple act of kindness can create a bond that lasts a lifetime. For Johnny Plowman of Lordsburg High School, his kind-hearted gesture changed his life and the life of a 7-year-old elementary school boy with cerebral palsy, forming a lifelong friendship.
Plowman, Lordsburg’s starting quarterback, first met his young friend, Manny, during a summer school program his mother,
Rosa Plowman, was working back in 2012. The two hit it off immediately and have become good friends, spending time with
each other weekly. Plowman often leaves school to go to Manny’s elementary school and eat lunch with him and recently surprised him on his birthday.
“I introduced Johnny and Manny at the summer program a few years ago and they just hit it off,” Mrs. Plowman said. “Johnny
just fell in love with Manny and they have been close ever since. He tries to make an effort to spend as much time as he can
with Manny.”
“Manny and I were introduced by my mom during summer school,” Johnny said. “My mom wanted me to meet Manny so one
time after football practice I went over to the school and from that point on we were like brothers. From the start we had a
special bond. I really wanted to share my passion for sports with him and allow him to experience that too. I try to involve him
in as much stuff as I do, for him to be able to enjoy those experiences as well.”
Manny’s grandmother, Teresa Meza says, that her grandson just thinks the world of Johnny. “When Manny first came home
after meeting Johnny, he said to me, ‘I have a Maverick,’ and I looked at him and said, ‘What do you mean a Maverick?’ It wasn’t
until his aide at school told me that Johnny and a few others came over to have lunch at Manny’s school that I understood what
he was talking about. Ever since then, it’s Johnny Plowman,
Johnny Plowman this, and Johnny Plowman that. He is very
attached to him now.”
Last year at a school pep rally, Plowman noticed Manny sitting in the corner of the gym watching other kids participate
in a relay race. After asking school administrators if he could
take Manny through the course, Johnny ran across the court,
grabbed the wheelchair and started racing through the obstacle course set-up on the floor. “The reaction on Manny’s
face was priceless; the crowd went crazy,” Mrs. Plowman
said.
Ms. Meza gives Manny’s account of the pep rally, “Manny said
that he and Johnny were running. I said, ‘Running?’ And he
said, ‘Yes and we won!’ He was so excited and happy that
they had won the race. To Manny it was the biggest deal because he had never experienced anything like that before.”
This year, Johnny spoke with school administrators and his
head coach, asking if Manny could be a part of the homecoming celebration. Manny was the Mavericks’ special guest at
the game, presenting the game ball, along with Johnny, to the
officials during the pregame festivities.
“During homecoming, I asked if Manny could come out with
us and present the game ball to the officials,” he said. “They announced his name and I pushed him out in his wheelchair and
together we presented the game ball. He was so happy. It was just amazing.”
“Johnny is a good kid but Manny has done so much for him. It has opened his eyes and his heart. Johnny wishes he could do so
much more for Manny,” Mrs. Plowman said. “Their relationship has made Johnny see things differently, making him grateful for
what he has and made him a better person.”
This year, Plowman led the Mavericks to the 3A District 3 championship and a No. 2 seed in the class 3A U.S. Bank State Football
playoffs, before a knee injury abruptly ended his sophomore campaign.
Prior to his injury, Plowman had thrown for 2,204 yards and 33 touchdowns, while rushing for 633 yards and 10 scores. On the
defensive side of the ball, he recorded 68 tackles, 11 for a loss and forced seven fumbles.
“When Manny heard Johnny hurt his knee, Manny told me, ‘Mom, I want to take Johnny my wheelchair so he can get around’
because he’s got two and this way Johnny could get around,” Ms. Meza said.
Despite the injury, Johnny says that Manny has taught him to look at life differently. “Manny has taught me to be happy all the
time. Even though he has his disability he always has a smile on his face and I have learned to love life like he does. Manny has
also taught me to never take anything for granted.”
Johnny continued, “I never thought when I first met him that he would mean so much to me. Manny is like my little brother and
I would do anything for him. He is a good kid. I know one day I’ll leave Lordsburg but I will never forget about him. He means
so much to me and my life.”
Ms. Meza, who Manny also calls mom, said that Johnny has given Manny opportunities that he otherwise might never have
received. “Manny having this opportunity to be involved with someone else and different activities outside the home has made
him more outgoing. He started to recognize that there is more out there than his family at home or his aide at school. He is
more into athletics now.”
Ms. Meza also said, “Manny now wants to be a Maverick. He says, ‘I’m going to be a Maverick.’ Johnny taking him under his
wing and exposing him to these different experiences has meant the world to this little boy. If he finds out there is going to be a
football game or something to do with the Mavericks, Manny is going to be the first one sitting there as far as he is concerned.
He is Johnny’s biggest fan. Manny used to be very timid about being around crowds but now he is more comfortable in different
situations and it has changed his life completely. Johnny has made such an impact in Manny’s life.”
She continued, “I can’t talk enough about Johnny. If it wasn’t for him, Manny wouldn’t know what it’s like to be accepted by
everybody. I feel so blessed that Johnny is in our lives.”
Johnny has a message to others about taking opportunities to make a difference in a person’s life. “I would say to others out
there to not take anything for granted. If you get a chance to make a difference in someone’s life and make an impact, do it. It
will not only change their life but it will change your life as well.”
“I told Johnny’s mom that when he first started
hanging out with Manny, I was a little nervous
about it because I knew Manny was so excited
about being with Johnny and I was hoping this
wasn’t going to be a one-time thing,” Ms. Meza
said. “Once I saw how much Johnny cared about
Manny, I saw not just a young high school kid, I
saw a very caring man. I told Mrs. Plowman that
she should be very proud of the man Johnny has
become. Johnny actually is that type of man you
want your kid to admire and grow up to be like
and I couldn’t be happier that Manny has Johnny to look up to. I couldn’t have asked for a better man to be in his life.”