Colorado University Athletics
Grady, Roby and Esposito Earn CU Athlete of the Week Honors
March 19, 2008 | General, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Tennis
BOULDER-- Golfer Jim Grady (senior), basketball standout Richard Roby (senior) and women's tennis player Melisa Esposito, were named University of Colorado Athletes of the Week for the week of March 10-16.
This is Grady's first athlete of the week honor for the year and his career. This is the first honor of the year for Esposito, but she won once last year, giving her two for her career. Roby moved out of a tie with current track and cross country standout Jenny Barringer for second on the all-time athlete of the week award winners as he now has 12; both trail former track and cross country distance runner Adam Goucher who finished his career with 14. He increased his lead among men's basketball players as he now has a two award lead over Shaun Vandiver who finished his career with 10. Roby finished with five honors on the year, which is tied for the third most in an academic year Roby also recorded five awards his sophomore year.
Grady, a Broomfield, Colo. (Broomfield) native, posted his career best and first top five or 10 finish in placing third in the Louisiana Classics, leading Colorado to its first team win in nearly two years. He had a 3-under par 69 in the final round, giving him a 1-under 215 total for the tournament - one of just four players under par for the 54-hole event. Grady recorded one of just three rounds in the 60s in the 78-man field Tuesday, his fourth sub-70 score this spring, after not having any in collegiate play his first three-and-a-half seasons.
Roby, a San Bernardino, Calif. (Lawrence Academy [Groton, Mass.]) native, averaged 25 points, 11 rebounds, and went 18-for-33 (.546) from the field helping the Colorado men's basketball team to a 1-1 record at the Big 12 Basketball Championship in Kansas City. Roby led the No. 12 seeded Buffaloes to a 12-year tournament first of defeating a No. 5 seed (Baylor) in double-overtime, 91-84 in the opening round. Roby played in a personal-best 50 minutes on 11-for-18 shooting from the field with three assists, two blocks and two steals. He scored a CU best 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Roby's 32 points set a CU record for most points in the conference tournament. In the second game, he recorded another double-double with a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds in the 54-49 loss to Oklahoma. In that game, Roby broke the school record for points in a career and finished his stellar four-year career with 2,001 points. He also finished fourth overall in the Big 12 in scoring.
Esposito, a Palm Beach, Fla. (William T. Dwyer) native, won all three of her singles and doubles matches helping the Colorado tennis team to a 3-0 week with 7-0 victories over Yale, No. 55 Kansas and Kansas State. She won all three of singles matches in straight sets at the No. 5 slot improving her winning streak to five matches. In doubles, Esposito teamed with junior teammate Franziska Jendrian for another three victories at the No. 2 position to keep their unbeaten doubles record intact at 8-0. Colorado (6-6, 3-0 Big 12) has won a school record four-straight 7-0 decisions and currently have a five-match winning after starting the dual season 0-3.
Others nominated for this week's award were Matt Tebo (track and field) and Jackie McFarland (women's basketball).
Men's Basketball: Matt Tebo, Freshman, Albuquerque, N.M.
Tebo became the first Buff true freshman since Dathan Ritzenhein to earn All-American honors in the 5,000-meter run at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships here at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark. Tebo finished the 25 lap race in 14:14.88 and placed 10th overall. Tebo worked his way up from the back of the pack to take 10th. Junior Bradley Harkrader led Tebo for most of the race until Tebo pulled ahead of his teammate in the final 1k of the race.
Women's Basketball: Jackie McFarland, Senior, Derby, Kansas
McFarland recorded 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting and seven rebounds in Colorado's 76-50 loss to Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament. She also recorded her 98th career double-digit scoring effort, including 90 in her last 96 games.
