What takes the average person six to eight months took Illini men’s gymnastics sophomore C.J. Maestas four. 

After tearing his right tricep at 85 percent while practicing a floor routine in mid-November, doctors told Maestas that he wouldn’t return for the 2013 season. His projected recovery would take him out of gymnastics for awhile, but on Feb. 25, Maestas was cleared to begin basic training.

“My overall feeling was just excitement,” Maestas said. “I knew I had been killing it in rehab, and I knew that if I killed it in rehab and showed (the doctor) the strength and progress I had been making, then he would have been more than happy for me to go out there and do gymnastics. … I was full of excitement, like a little kid going to the jungle gym.”

Though Maestas was out with the injury, he still attended every practice to show his support for the Illini and follow his rehab schedule. Leading by example, Maestas now had to find a different role to take on from the sidelines. 

“When C.J. is in the confines of this structure, he gives 100 percent,” Illinois head coach Justin Spring said. “I can’t say that about a lot of people, but he is always an inquisitive person asking, ‘How can I do more?’ or ‘What can I do better?’ I think it was tough taking on the different role. Now it’s not for me, it’s how can I make the team do better, but he adopted that role quite well.”

Maestas’ clearance from the doctor does not mean that he is fully healed. He still needs to take precautions and what he is allowed to practice in the gym is limited.

“He’s allowed to start doing gymnastics, which is about as vague as it could be,” Spring said. “We went through some of the specifics with the doctor. He is very concerned about taking a bad landing when it’s sore. … He’s got to keep things limited so that he doesn’t take a bad fall and stay off pommel horse, which requires a lot of stability. No vault, no floor for another couple of weeks.”

The first day back in the gym after the doctor’s clearance on Feb. 26 brought both pain and pleasure for Maestas. Being able to touch the equipment and start basic training brought back happiness to him as a life-long gymnast. 

“It was literally like cruise control again,” he said. “I felt like I used to. I didn’t expect it to necessarily come back so fast. … I just let everything go. When I do gymnastics, I am free out there. I heard an interview with (Minnesota Vikings running back) Adrian Peterson, and he said when he plays football, he feels like he’s playing football in his backyard and [he feels] 8-years-old. When I do gymnastics, I feel like I’m in a mommy-and-diapers class again, literally just having fun.” 

Illinois has changed its practice format after a shocking loss to Iowa earlier in the season. The Illini do more training as a team by practicing simulation events during the week. Because Maestas was recently cleared, his level of training isn’t up to the caliber of the rest of his teammates. Maestas does most of his training alone.

“He does need direction and he’s not with the group,” Spring said. “He’s been great and supportive with the guys and their routines, but as he is doing his sequences, it may not be returned in the same fashion. Everyone is concerned about Big Tens coming up in four weeks and routines being done.”

Training alone doesn’t bother Maestas. Whether he has a group of his teammates huddled around him, when Maestas starts his routines, all eyes are drawn to him. 

“He has a presence in the gym like no other,” Spring said. “When he was on high bar, the whole gym almost stopped to see what he was doing. He still has that allure from the guys.”

Because Maestas hasn’t touched gymnastics equipment in four months, he can perform just basic skills. The consistent repetition of the basics will help Maestas move to more advanced gymnastics, something Spring said can work to his advantage.

“C.J.’s start (values) are going to be world-elite level,” he said. “He needs that international presence. That international body line, as we call it. He needs to work on some of the basics: the fine-tuning details, his handstand position, form. Things like that really make a gymnast shine among the greatest of the great.”

Returning to training hasn’t been all success. Not being able to perform the high level of skill he once could causes frustration. Maestas’ mental strength and focus will play a huge role in his recovery. 

“It’s the same thing that’s difficult with training in general,” Spring said. “The mismatched belief that you know you can do this and your body’s inability to do so. Your brain is never really held back by anything if you believe you can do something. It then becomes your body holding you back. … Fortunately for C.J., I think he is like me and has unconditional belief in himself, which is why he is a great competitor.”

A combination of genetics and hard work has propelled Maestas through his rehab schedule. 

“I wasn’t just going to sit and lift a two-pound weight lifting my arm up thinking, ‘This sucks’ and dwell,” Maestas said. “I was sitting there imagining that I was doing a high bar set. Genetically, I’m a freak, at least with certain things. My muscle tone was coming back so quick and (men’s gymnastics trainer) Melissa (Brungard) didn’t know what to do. She said, ‘You are lifting two pounds like it’s nothing, when a normal person would be lifting two pounds and hurting.’ I literally treated rehab as if I was doing gymnastics.”

Spring had no doubt that Maestas would recover quicker than expected. He expected Maestas to be cleared during his doctor’s appointment in late February. Whether Maestas will return at the end of this season has still yet to be determined, but his main goal will be to make the national team this summer. 

“I don’t want to come back too soon, where my future will be in jeopardy,” Maestas said. “I’m going to keep doing rehab and take it step by step, and whatever happens, happens. If I come back this season, I would be grateful. I want to help the team out, but if it doesn’t happen right now, I’m not too worried about it. 

“It’s hard to raise your hand in a competition and you are swimming with the sharks your first time. I need to go test the waters at qualifiers in the summer. When that competition comes, then I plan to compete at Visa’s and make the national team for 2013.”

Gina can be reached at [email protected] and @muelle30.