College Track: D-III Champions Move to Big Ten

McKena Ramos did not plan to leave UW-Oshkosh as a freshman.

The track and cross-country star arrived at the Division III school as a recruit. Coaches expected him to be good, but not national championship material. He won the indoor 800-meter and outdoor 1500-meter national titles in his first year. Those victories changed his path. Ramos transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Big Ten school.

Ramos is not alone in this move. Every Big Ten school currently has at least one transfer from a Division III program on a roster. Two football players joined the Badgers recently. Ricky Finco, a junior wide receiver, transferred from UW-Whitewater after one season. He plays primarily on the scout team. Ryan Ramczyk played offensive line at UW-Stevens Point. He then had an All-American season in Madison that improved his standing on NFL Draft boards.

The jump to higher-level competition brings changes in training and support. Ramos said the competition level is the biggest athletic difference. He described every athlete on his current team as being at his level or above. This intensity has helped him improve his times. He also values the travel and the chance to compete on major stages. Academic support differs as well. Ramos credits the Fetzer Center at Madison for tutoring and the ability to take exams while traveling. These resources contributed to his academic success.

Financial resources mark another distinction between the levels. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships. Their facilities are generally smaller than those at Division I institutions. Division I schools tend to invest more in physical infrastructure. Ramos noted that running workouts are similar at both levels. However, Madison has athletic training facilities like ice baths that Oshkosh lacked. These amenities are part of a larger investment in the program.

The move is not always the right fit for every athlete. Emma Paulson tried the transition in swimming. She joined the UW-Madison swim team as a freshman. After one season, she concluded that top-level college competition was not right for her. Paulson transferred to the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, a Division III school. She finished her career there with three individual national championships and nine individual All-American designations.

Paulson said her swimming times matched Division I standards. However, the culture matched Division III better. She explained that Division I swimming takes over a student's life. In Division III, the sport is just a part of it. She is held to the same academic standards as non-athletes at St. Thomas. The school does not provide designated academic services for athletes.

Eamon McKenna, Ramos's coach at UW-Oshkosh, said the recruiting process did not anticipate such a rapid rise. He described Ramos as good but under the radar. McKenna advised athletes in similar positions to consider their options. He said standing out in Division III creates opportunities. The key question is whether an athlete can replace what makes them dominant at their current school. Ramos said he would make the same choice again. He has been happy with his decision to compete for Madison, a dream he held since middle school.

Both athletes view their choices as personal decisions based on fit. Ramos sought higher competition and resources. Paulson sought a cultural alignment that suited her lifestyle. Their experiences illustrate the varying paths available to high-performing student-athletes. The transfer portal continues to allow athletes to move between divisions to find the right environment.