Wearing his lucky Chicago flag socks, Norwood Park native Josef Rau took a giant step toward qualifying for the Rio Games on Saturday by winning his weight class at the U.S. Olympic wrestling trials.

And, it turns out, the Greco-Roman wrestler needed all the luck he could muster during the best-of-three finals.

After being pinned in his first match, Rau came back to beat world team member Caylor Williams 5-2 in the second. Rau was trailing in the third match, when he scored with 41 seconds left and held on to capture the title on a 6-5 decision.

"To be honest, I kind a blacked out there at the end," he said. "I just told myself to keep wrestling."

Rau, who never placed in the state tournament when he wrestled for St. Patrick High School on the Northwest Side, admitted to being nervous before the trials, which are being held this weekend at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on the University of Iowa campus. He attempted to calm himself with a sports psychology book and his trusted Chicago flag socks, which he wears whenever he wrestles stateside.

"I was so nervous coming into this," he said. "I had a sick stomach all week. I couldn't eat anything. And I enjoy eating a lot."

Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune Chicago native Josef Rau celebrates after defeating Caylor Williams to win the 98 kg Greco-Roman championship Saturday, April 9, 2016, during the U.S. Olympic wrestling trials at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Chicago native Josef Rau celebrates after defeating Caylor Williams to win the 98 kg Greco-Roman championship Saturday, April 9, 2016, during the U.S. Olympic wrestling trials at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

The 25-year-old Rau — a former Division III champion at Elmhurst College — still has a long road to Rio. Because the U.S. team has not yet earned an Olympic spot in the 216-pound class, Rau must secure his own berth at a last-chance tournament in Mongolia later this month.

"I'm happy for tonight, and tomorrow it's back to work," he said.

Earlier Saturday, Oak Park native Ellis Coleman had his Rio dreams dashed when he finished fourth at the trials. Coleman, known as the "Flying Squirrel" for his leaping signature move, was attempting to make his second Olympic team in as many tries.

His fourth-place finish will cost him a spot on the U.S. world team and federation funding next season. Coleman declined to speak to reporters after the tournament, but his coach predicted he will stick with the sport for another Olympic cycle.

"He's a champion," coach Dremiel Byers said. "It didn't happen for him today, but he'll regroup and come back strong."

The trials continue Sunday, when Tony Ramos of Carol Stream attempts to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team. Ramos, a former NCAA champion at the University of Iowa, has never lost at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

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