The term "winter break" does not apply to the No. 7 Illinois wrestling team. The team will be practicing or competing for most of the month-long vacation.

"One of the perks of wrestling is that it happens to cover all of our breaks," senior Jason Potter joked. "We get to go home for Christmas, but for the most part we are here training."

On Dec. 29-30 the Illini will compete in the Midlands tournament in Evanston, Ill. The tournament is known not only for the amount of good college teams that attend, but also for being an open tournament that anyone can enter, especially Olympic hopefuls.

"The tournament is a grind," Potter said. "You not only have some of the best teams there but you also have guys who are older who are trying to get some matches in before the Olympic trials. A lot of open guys will be there, especially since this is an Olympic year."

Illinois head coach Mark Johnson values the quality of the tournament.

"Midlands, most of the time, is the best tournament of the year," Johnson said. "It's a tournament after Christmas that a lot of us don't like, but because it's such a good tournament we all go."

According to sophomore Alex Tirapelle, ranked No.1 at 157 lbs., the timing of the tournament could be a little better.

"I wish it didn't fall right after Christmas," Tirapelle said. "People go home to their families during Christmas and you miss out on practice time. Sometimes I feel like we don't get the showing that we could because of the timing of the tournament."

In addition to the Midlands tournament, the Illini will also travel to Raleigh, N.C., to compete in the North Carolina State open on Jan. 10.

The team's road trip continues after break. They have two tournaments and four Big Ten dual meets before finally returning home on Feb. 6 to take on nationally ranked Minnesota.