The 2010 Gymcat season was filled with ice treatment, massages and visits to the training room for Rebecca Cardenas. Cardenas, a junior, was forced to miss the entire year after suffering a knee injury before the season began.

The coaching staff is expecting a lot from her this year and hopes she’ll soon return to old form.

During her freshman year, Cardenas competed on the floor and bar events in 13 meets, including the regional championship.

Cardenas’ best score throughout her freshman campaign was an impressive 9.925 on floor.

She’s showed improvement every week this year for the Gymcats, according to her coaches. Last week, against in-state rival ASU, she posted a score of 9.725 during the floor event.

Cardenas spoke with the Daily Wildcat about her recovery and preparation for this season.

Daily Wildcat: What is it like competing again?

Cardenas: It feels really great. It just wasn’t a very good feeling sitting out for so long just watching my teammates perform last year. It’s a great feeling being back out there and getting to compete.

What was going through your head when you got back out there for the first time?

I was pretty nervous, it’s been awhile. I just had to get my nerves to calm down but other than that it was a great feeling.

How comfortable do you feel out there with your knee?

It actually feels great. I haven’t been having any problems with it. I was doing rehab and working on it for so long that I technically don’t have any problems with it anymore.

You have done floor this year. Do you have any plans on doing any other events this year?

Well my bars need to get more consistent. I need to remember how to compete my bars like I do in practice. Hopefully my vault will keep progressing, so we will see how that goes.

How was it last year just sitting in the corner rehabbing not being able to help the team?

It was really depressing at some points. It wasn’t a good feeling not doing anything to help the team, except cheering and stuff like that. On the other hand it motivated me, just seeing my teammates working so hard and pulling through their injuries so they could pick up for the people who couldn’t do anything. So it worked both ways.