A year later, Gilwee reflects on knee injury

BURLINGTON, VT – UVM women’s basketball player Catherine Gilwee was as confident as ever following her sophomore season. She had started all 32 games, averaging over 10 points per game, and was key in the Catamounts’ run to the NCAA tournament.

But all that confidence was stripped away in a moment last spring.

“It was in transition, a layup. Just the first step of a righty layup, just going full speed and it just went in,” said Gilwee, recounting her injury.

Gilwee’s knee buckled during a shoot-around and tests confirmed the worst: a torn meniscus and ACL.

“‘Ugh, this is gonna be [awful],”‘ Gilwee remembered thinking. “I just knew I’d be out for a while.”

Gilwee spent her entire junior season on the bench. Angry at first, she accepted her fate and focused on the future. Over a year later, she feels differently.

“I’m honestly very thankful for it. I learned a lot. I wouldn’t be where I am right now without the injury,” she said.

So what happened? Gilwee, a natural shooter and ball-handler, began to look at other aspects of the game.

“She’s more of a vocal leader than she’s ever been by taking that as her job for this team last year,” said Alisa Kresge, head coach for UVM women’s basketball.

“[Gilwee] growing that skill is going to put her in a really good position and the team in a really good position for the upcoming season,” said former Catamount guard Emma Utterback.

Gilwee became the team’s number one cheerleader, she also became an extension of the coaching staff.

“She’s showing that she’s going be out there and be a huge piece to our program,” said Kresge, on Gilwee’s growth.

With that leadership growth completed, the question becomes: how will Gilwee rebound physically? She was cleared in mid-March, but only recently began playing full contact.

“It doesn’t hurt when I play at all. I don’t think about it when I play. It’s more after I play it gets a little still, gets a little tight,” said Gilwee, analyzing her recovery.

That pain should go away over time, but her offensive skills? Those haven’t gone anywhere.

“She looks stronger, quicker than I’ve ever seen her,” said Kresge.

Despite needing to stay off her feet early in rehab, Gilwee never stopped working on the fundamentals. “Ball handling, shooting, even passing, I’d do passing against the wall and stuff like that,” she said. “That stuff came back pretty quick.”

Utterback, who spent three years as teammates with Gilwee, is excited to watch her return. “I have no doubt that she’s going to be 100 percent fine by the time season comes just because of her work ethic,” she said.

Heading into her senior season, a healthy Gilwee has just one thought on her mind.

“I have never wanted to win an America East championship so bad,” she said. “I’ve just been itching to play for so long and I want to come back and I want this team to be so successful this year.”

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