Students at St. Patrick High School were visited by a special alumnus on May 20: Joe Rau, a 2009 graduate who recently qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Rau, 33, a three-time Senior World Team member, gave a brief talk to the students before they watched a recording of the match that secured him a spot on the Olympic team. This was his third attempt at qualifying for the Olympic games.

He struggled a lot during his time at St. Patrick, he said, but he was determined to keep improving his skills as a wrestler and striving to reach his goal of competing in the Olympics.

“It was really hard for me, but it all started paying dividends when I got older,” Rau said. “I think if my story can tell you anything, it’s have big dreams even if you aren’t where you want to be right now.”

When Rau started at St. Patrick High School, he had goals of being valedictorian, a starter on the football team and a state champion.

“I wasn’t any of those things,” he said. “But this is where I put in the hours and all of the work and built the foundation that made my success happen. … I’m living proof that you don’t have to be a state champion to be an Olympian.”

Following the program, Rau met with members of the wrestling team, including sophomore Daniel Goodwin, who knows Rau and has competed in some of the same tournaments he has.

“I thought it was amazing. It was really cool to see one of the alums here go to the Olympics,” Goodwin said. “I consider him a teammate.”

They share a passion for Greco-Roman wrestling, Goodwin said.

“I love the sport of Greco, so, every time I see him compete, it makes me want to not only do as well as he did but do better,” he said.

Fellow sophomore Van Grasser said he thought Rau motivated his fellow wrestlers with his message.

“I thought he inspired all of St. Pat’s wrestlers to keep working hard every day,” said Grasser, who wants to become a state champion wrestler.

Pat Duggan coached Rau when he was at St. Pat’s and has followed his career.

“To see his journey come to this point is just incredible,” Duggan said. “When Joe came to St. Pat’s, he even mentioned it, he had some challenges. … [He was] just trying to grow up a little while he was here, but the work ethic was always there.”

When Rau finished his senior year, he had not achieved his goal of being a state champion or placing on the state level, but he still left the school as a successful wrestler. During his time in high school, Rau’s father was serving in the U.S. Army’s special forces in the Middle East, which was a challenge for him and his family, Duggan said. But between high school and college, Rau won a national title in Greco-Roman wrestling and that changed things, Duggan said.

“Joe got better every year. I believe he was one of our most improved wrestlers,” he said. “So to me, when I see this day come, I don’t look it as a surprise. For me it was a matter of ‘when,’ as opposed to ‘if,’ for Joe.”

Rau’s wife and family have supported him on his path to the Olympics because he isn’t paid to wrestle, Duggan said.

“It’s really a great story, a great journey,” Duggan said. “I’ll definitely be rooting for him in Paris, and I hope he comes away with a medal.”