Joe Rau

Joe Rau

Rau in 2020
Personal information
Full name	Joseph Patrick Rau
Born	(1991-03-17) March 17, 1991 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	97 kg (214 lb)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Wrestling
Event(s)	Greco-Roman and Folkstyle
College team	Elmhurst University
Team	USA
Medal record Men's Greco-Roman wrestling Representing the United States Pan American Championships 2015 Santiago de Chile 80 kg 2020 Ottawa 87 kg 2023 Buenos Aires 97 kg Grand Prix 2016 Zagreb 98 kg 2015 Madrid 98 kg Dan Kolov & Nikola Petrov Tournament 2024 Sofia 97 kg Collegiate Wrestling Representing Elmhurst University NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships 2013 Cedar Rapids 184 lb 2012 La Crosse 184 lb

Joseph Patrick Rau (born March 17, 1991) is an American Greco-Roman wrestler.

High School career

Rau wrestled for St. Patrick High School in Chicago, Illinois, but never placed at the state tournament. He was an Illinois state qualifier, two-time conference champion and freestyle state champion.

College career

At Elmhurst College, Rau was coached by past NCAA champion Steve Marianetti and won the 184 pound title at the 2013 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. He is a three-time NCAA DIII All-American and 2014 University Nationals Champion. Rau was named Conference Wrestler of the Year, Elmhurst College Athlete of the Year and became two-time place winner at Midlands Championships.

Senior career

Joe Rau is a two-time Senior World Team Member (2014, 2019), and two-time U.S. Open champion (2016, 2019).

In 2021, he placed fifth in several international tournaments in Europe: Grand Prix of Zagreb Open in Croatia, the Olympic Preparation Tournament in Hungary and the ranking tournament Matteo Pellicone in Italy.

In 2020, Rau won gold at the Pan-American Championships and the Pan-American Olympic Qualifier. In doing so, effectively secured the Olympic spot for Team USA at 87 kg for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

In 2019, he became Final X champion after scoring on Ben Provisor in the last seconds of the last finals match. Rau won the U.S. Open and came third at the Dave Schultz Memorial International. He placed fourth at the same tournament in Freestyle.

In 2018, Rau earned gold at the Lavrikov Championships in Russia and the Bill Farrell Memorial International in Freestyle. In Greco-Roman he took third at the Bill Farrell Memorial International. He placed second in the Haparanda Cup in Sweden and the U.S. Open. He came in fourth at the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament in Freestyle.

In 2017, after failing to qualify for the World Team in Greco-Roman, he earned a spot in the freestyle trials by way of a last chance qualifier. Rau became runner-up in the U.S. World Team Trials and U.S. Open.

In 2016, he won Olympic Team Trials, U.S. Open. He took silver at the Grand Prix of Zagreb Open and bronze at Pan-American Games Qualifier. He took ninth at the Second World Olympic Games Qualifier.

In 2015, Rau won the Pan-American Championships as well as a host of other domestic and international tournaments: Senior Nationals & Trials Qualifier, Bill Farrell International Tournament and the Grand Prix Zagreb Open. Additionally he took second at the Dave Schultz Memorial International, third at the Grand Prix of Spain and the Hungarian Grand Prix. He came in fourth in the U.S. Open.

In 2014, Rau became Phase II World Team Trials champion. He competed at the 2014 World Wrestling Championships at 80 kg. He lost in the first round to Jonas Bossert of Switzerland by fall. He won gold at the University Nationals Championships and Northern Plains Regional Championships.

In 2013, he became the runner-up at the New York AC International Tournament and took fourth place in the U.S. Open.

In 2012, Rau came in third at the Canada Cup in Freestyle.