Abbey's Road
Senior midfielder is the model of consistency
Jimmy Carter
Issue date: 9/17/08 Section: Sports
Abbey Wilburn did not grow up a Razorbacks fan - in fact, far from it.
Wilburn is from Irving, Texas, where she grew up following the big Texas schools, especially Texas Tech, where much of her family went to school.
That all changed when she took an unofficial visit to Fayetteville and fell in love.
"I came here for an unofficial and I saw the campus, and saw just the town, the community," Wilburn said. "I met the team and I remember driving back home saying 'I can come here, I really like it here' and I never regret that decision, I love it here."
And the rest is history. Fast forward four years and the Razorback senior midfielder has started every game of her collegiate career and done so in style, ranking 10th on the UA charts in career assists entering the 2008 season.
"I think the phrase that comes to mind when I think about [Wilburn] is 'Miss Consistency' and that's defined her performance for four years," Razorback head coach Gordon Henderson said. "Obviously you know she's started every game since she's been here, knock on wood."
The fact that Wilburn has started every game of her career is a testament to not only her talent, but also her durability. Henderson said he believes Wilburn's fitness has vastly improved during her career, a key contributing factor to her consistent play.
"She's been healthy, she's been fit," Henderson said. "But I think as a player we have a pretty fair idea of what we're going to get from her day in and day out and that's also in training too. I think any player that can do that, that's a special thing."
Wilburn has two assists through the first six games of the season, bumping her career total to 14, which puts her in a tie for eighth on the school's all-time list. Wilburn said she wouldn't mind moving up further on the list before her career is finished.
"I want to maybe set some records for assists," Wilburn said. "I know earlier in my career I was on track for that so I'm trying to get back up there."
Wilburn is from Irving, Texas, where she grew up following the big Texas schools, especially Texas Tech, where much of her family went to school.
That all changed when she took an unofficial visit to Fayetteville and fell in love.
"I came here for an unofficial and I saw the campus, and saw just the town, the community," Wilburn said. "I met the team and I remember driving back home saying 'I can come here, I really like it here' and I never regret that decision, I love it here."
And the rest is history. Fast forward four years and the Razorback senior midfielder has started every game of her collegiate career and done so in style, ranking 10th on the UA charts in career assists entering the 2008 season.
"I think the phrase that comes to mind when I think about [Wilburn] is 'Miss Consistency' and that's defined her performance for four years," Razorback head coach Gordon Henderson said. "Obviously you know she's started every game since she's been here, knock on wood."
The fact that Wilburn has started every game of her career is a testament to not only her talent, but also her durability. Henderson said he believes Wilburn's fitness has vastly improved during her career, a key contributing factor to her consistent play.
"She's been healthy, she's been fit," Henderson said. "But I think as a player we have a pretty fair idea of what we're going to get from her day in and day out and that's also in training too. I think any player that can do that, that's a special thing."
Wilburn has two assists through the first six games of the season, bumping her career total to 14, which puts her in a tie for eighth on the school's all-time list. Wilburn said she wouldn't mind moving up further on the list before her career is finished.
"I want to maybe set some records for assists," Wilburn said. "I know earlier in my career I was on track for that so I'm trying to get back up there."
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