Five-time All-American's move to Big Ten reflects a quiet trend

McKena Ramos won two national championships in a single season at UW-Oshkosh, a feat his coach did not anticipate when recruiting him. Eamon McKenna, who oversees track and cross-country at the school, admitted he viewed Ramos as a talented but under-the-radar athlete. Ramos, a five-time All-American, privately set a condition for himself: if he won the indoor 800-meter title as a freshman, he would consider moving to Division I. He followed through after also capturing the outdoor 1500-meter crown.

Ramos, a senior from Sheboygan, has competed for both the Badgers' track and cross-country teams since transferring to UW-Madison. He attributes his improved times to the higher intensity of the competition. "The biggest difference athletically is the competition level; everyone is on your level and up," Ramos said. He also cited the travel schedule and the opportunity to compete on national stages as primary motivations for the switch.

This trajectory is becoming standard across the Big Ten. Every conference school currently has at least one Division III transfer on a roster. Two Badger football players followed a similar route. Ricky Finco, a junior wide receiver, transferred from UW-Whitewater after one year. Ryan Ramczyk dominated at UW-Stevens Point before having an All-American season in Madison that boosted his NFL Draft standing.

The move is not universally successful. Emma Paulson joined UW-Midison's swim team as a freshman but found the environment unsuitable. She returned to Division III, transferring to the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. "I realized that people are different and have different fits, it might work for them, but it wasn't the right fit for me," Paulson said. At St. Thomas, she finished her career with three individual national titles and nine All-American honors.

Paulson noted that while her swimming times matched Division I standards, the culture fit her better at the lower division. "Swimming DI, it kind of takes over your life in a sense, but DIII [is] just a part of your life," she explained. The academic and physical resources differ between the levels. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships and often have smaller facilities. Ramos noted that Madison provided access to ice baths and the Fetzer Center for tutoring, resources not available at Oshkosh. Paulson said she receives the same academic support as non-athletes at St. Thomas.

Both athletes said they would make the same decision again. Ramos described competing for Madison as a dream he had held since middle school. McKenna advised athletes in similar positions to evaluate whether they can replace what makes them dominant at their current school. "If you stand out in DIII, you're going to have opportunities," he said.