ESPY Awards to showcase ASU athletes

Anthony Robles to accept Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, make speech

ASU wrestler Anthony Robles and softball pitcher Dallas Escobedo – both NCAA champions – are nominated for 2011 ESPY (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) Awards. Robles is nominated in the category of Best Male Athlete with a Disability, and Escobedo is nominated in the category of Best Female College Athlete.

Robles also has been awarded the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, named for Jim Valvano, an American college basketball coach who died from cancer in 1993. Robles will accept the award and make a speech at the televised July 13 event in Los Angeles.

Fans can vote for Robles and Escobedo online and by mobile device at espn.com/espys or on the ESPN Facebook page: facebook.com/espn. The deadline to vote is July 9.

Robles, born without a right leg, won the NCAA title in his weight class and capped off a perfect 36-0 season before graduating in Spring 2011 with a bachelor's degree in business communications. He plans to go to work on several media collaborations and a host of motivational speaking engagements.

Escobedo, who led the Sun Devils to their second NCAA Women's College World Series title after defeating Florida 7-2, became the first freshman pitcher to win the title-clinching game since UCLA's Heather Compton in 1990.