Robles earns two awards at 2011 ESPYS

On July 13, Anthony Robles, a three-time All-American and 2011 NCAA Champion at 125 pounds for the Arizona State University wrestling program, accepted a pair of honors at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. While he was voted as the recipient of the ESPY Award for Best Male Athlete with a Disability, his acceptance speech for the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance was on par with what his Sun Devil career was: inspirational.

“Every soul who comes to earth
with a leg or two at birth
must wrestle his opponents knowing it’s not what is,
it’s what can be that measures worth.
Make it hard, just make it possible
And through pain I’ll not complain.
My spirt is unconquerable,
Fearless I will face each foe,
For I know I am capable.
I don’t care what’s probable,
through blood, sweat and tears, I am UNSTOPPABLE.”

~ Anthony Robles (July 13, 2011 – Jimmy V Award for Perseverance acceptance speech)

Undefeated at 36-0 as a senior, Robles was ranked among the Top 3 nationally all season before heading to Philadelphia as the No. 1 seed at his weight. After working his way to the finals, he faced No. 2 Matt McDonough of Iowa, the defending national champion. On the raised platform inside the sold-out arena, Robles persevered and captured his crown with a 7-1 decision to help his team to a Top 6 national finish.

A four-time Pac-10 finalist and three-time champion, Robles collected numerous honors throughout the season, including being named the Outstanding Wrestler at five events: the NCAA Championships, the Pac-10 Championships, the Las Vegas Invitational, the Reno Tournament of Champions and the Lone Star Duals. Following the season, along with his two ESPY Awards, Robles was named the Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year and ASU’s recipient of the Pac-10 Tom Hansen Medal of Honor (top male senior athlete). With 123 career wins on the mat, Robles finished with the sixth-most wins in a Sun Devil career while posting the first undefeated season since Eric Larkin also went 36-0 in 2003 to win the title at 149.

While Robles’ time on the mat in Tempe has come to a close, his next ‘season’ is already underway as he continues to spread his message of being unstoppable in life. For more information, visit his web site: AnthonyRobles.com