Joe Gratto
Joe Gratto
Year: '58
Team: Lehigh

      JOE GRATTO, Lehigh ’58, a Canton, NY native who competed in the EIWA’s greatest era, Joe’s only EIWA loss was against Penn State’s John Pepe, an NCAA runner-up and third whom Gratto avenged, 9-8, in that year’s NCAA finals. To get there Joe had to defeat the next year’s National champion from Oklahoma. Gratto owned five career wins over four different NCAA finalists. Of his six losses, five came against National finalists.

      Dr. Joseph Gratto is the President Emeritus of Potomac State College of West Virginia University, where he and wife, Barbara, have remained since 1987.  Joe was a Marine Officer from 1958-1979, including three tours in Vietnam and a Bronze Star and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry before retiring as Lieutenant Colonel. He earned a PhD and became a dean at DeVry Institute before accepting the 7-year presidency.  Gratto graduated with honors on and off the mat. Joe graduated from Lehigh with honors and became one of his school’s first to be selected for a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship.