A native of Ankeny, Iowa, Rathjen was a runner up in the summer of 2021 at the Fargo junior freestyle national championships. Rathjen has won numerous titles on the youth circuit both nationally and in the state of Iowa. Rathjen made his high school debut in the 2017-2018 season finishing as a runner up at the Iowa 3A state tournament. Rathjen returned in 18 -19winning the Johnston Valley invitational, and finishing as runner up at the Cliff Keen Invitational.