C.J. Maestas, sophomore standout for the preseason No. 1 Illinois men’s gymnastics team, will miss the entirety of the 2013 season because of an injury, head coach Justin Spring confirmed Sunday night.

Maestas tore his tricep in practice two weeks ago while practicing flares during a floor sequence at Kenney Gym, Spring said, adding that Maestas received surgery on the elbow Nov. 20. The recovery process is expected to take between four and six months.

Maestas won the NCAA’s still rings title last season as a true freshman. Last year’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year was slotted to anchor five of the Illini’s six events this season.

Spring said Maestas was irreplaceable and that the entire team will be responsible for helping fill Maestas’ void if the Illini are to repeat as national champions. He pointed to senior Yoshi Mori, who finished sixth in the all-around in April’s NCAA Championships, as someone who will need to step up in Maestas’ absence.

“We’re not the same team anymore,” Spring said in a phone interview. “Every guy who was seventh in an event is now in our lineup. It’s an early setback, but the team is ready to rise to the occasion.”

Spring said Maestas hopes to return to full strength in time to compete at the World Championships in the summer. Illinois’ season opens Jan. 12 at UIC.