Elmhurst University Athletics

With a national championship and three All-America honors to his credit, Joe Rau was one of the most dominant wrestlers in Elmhurst College History.

Rau captured the NCAA Championship at 184 pounds during the 2012-13 season, helping the Bluejays score a second-place national finish as a team. He closed out his career with an overall record of 121-22, ranking second in school history in all-time victories. His .846 winning percentage remains the highest winning percentage in school history.
 
Rau arrived at Elmhurst in 2009-10 and promptly captured the first of four College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Individual Championships. He won the individual title at 197 pounds in 2010 before winning the 184 pound title in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He was named the CCIW's Most Outstanding Wrestler for the 2012-13 season. During his final two seasons, he posted a combined record of 71-6, winning over 35 matches in each year.
 
A three-time national qualifier, Rau earned All-America honors each year he went to the NCAA Championships. As a sophomore, he placed seventh in the nation in 2011. During his junior year of 2012, he took home third-place before closing the book on his career with the national title during the 2013 season.
 
Rau continued to distinguish himself as a wrestler after he left Elmhurst. Competing in Greco-Roman wrestling, Rau won the 2016 U.S. Open and also claimed the 2016 U.S Olympic Trials Championship.