Hurlbert, Abby

A true throwback style of play was a trademark of Abby Hurlbert of Thomaston. It didn’t matter if Hurlbert was donning a field hockey uniform, softball cleats or basketball sneakers. It was the Hurlbert and McGivney family way, which pretty much was non-negotiable.

The family history from in this close knit, Litchfield County community features among others her dad, John, a standout basketball player at the University of Hartford and known for his game-winning free throws against the University of Connecticut, her uncle Wayne, John’s brother, a multiple-sport standout, just like her sister Gabby and cousins’ Morgan Sanson, Brooke Gomes and Drew Gomes.

One of the most decorated athletes in the BL, Hurlbert was also a three-time all-league selection in field hockey and softball.

Among her many accolades was GameTimeCT basketball MVP and Female Athlete of the Year and Waterbury Republican American Player of the Year. “Sports have always been my passion, and whatever season we were in, I just loved that sport and just gave it my all, ” said Abby Hurlbert, a 2014 Thomaston High School.

“I leaned toward basketball, for sure, but initially when I started college, softball was going to be my direction, ” Hurlbert recalled.

But it was basketball that would soon become her exclusive sport when it would become difficult for her to play back-to-back seasons for the NCAA Division II Owls.

But that turned out to be OK considering the success she had over four seasons, which included a 38-point effort, featuring seven 3-pointers, in the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament.

At the Moore Fieldhouse at SCSU, Hurlbert had a regular family-oriented fanbase, which included her grandparents Stanley and Elsa Hurlbert and Ray and Elizabeth McGivney. Ray was always ready with a video camera in hand. Elsa happened to be Hurlbert’s middle school gym teacher and “instilled the competitive nature in me.”

As good as her college experience was, it was Hurlbert’s scholastic, clutch moments that will be savored and remembered.

None more recognizable than on March 22, 2014, at the Mohegan Sun Arena, Hurlbert converted three foul shots with 0.2 seconds left in overtime to force a second session. Thomaston would go on to win, 61-57 double overtime victory over St. Paul to capture the Class S state title to climax a 23-point performance.
Hurlbert compiled 1,136 career points.

“What Abby brought to the table was her mentality, mindset and determination, ” noted former Thomaston head girls’ basketball coach Bob McMahon. “If it were a drill in practice or just keeping score, she was winning it. When she laced up her sneakers, she was a throwback talent. She could to her left, she could go to her right, was a good rebounder and became a deadly 3-point shooter.”

After she converted the first two free throws in the title game and the Lady Golden Bears still down by a point, St. Paul called a time-out, recalled McMahon. “When Abby came to the bench, she was giving instructions to her teammates. I said to her ‘Do you mind if I say something? ’ Oh yeah.’”

Hurlbert proceeded to hit the tying free throw and force the second OT.

“I thrived on pressure, and it helped that in drills in practice, coach McMahon stressed moments like that and we would go over that until we got it correct, ” she added. “We were so prepared and ready for those big moments.”

McMahon and former athletic director Bill Ryan chuckle at that innocent time-out moment.

“Abby always had that ‘It factor, ’” said Ryan, her presenter at the hall of fame induction and a high school classmate of Hurlbert’s uncle Wayne Hurlbert. “Abby just hated to lose.”

Hurlbert credits her entire family for instilling in her the way to play and hustle and stressed the importance of learning every day.

“I listened to everything they would say because I knew they were all trying to help make me better, ” she said. “To be a part of the Thomaston program was such a great opportunity and privilege that I didn’t take for granted. It was a culture that Bob McMahon and assistant coaches Bill Ryan, Tony Geraci and Kelly Finlay created.”

Now 29, Hurlbert is a Remote Operations Supervisor for college basketball events with ESPN.

A marketing major in college, Hurlbert’s sports and basketball background has come in handy over the past seven-plus years.

“My internships in college were in event planning, and even though I didn’t have a broadcasting background, my passion, of course, was sports and basketball. That made it a great fit and a dream come true.”