Division III Stars Find Big Ten Paths

McKena Ramos recently arrived at the University of Wisconsin Madison after a standout season at UW Oshkosh. The transfer decision followed a personal challenge he set for himself during the indoor national meet. Ramos decided that winning a national title as a freshman would be sufficient reason to consider moving up to Division I. He then claimed victories in both the indoor 800 meter and outdoor 1500 meter events. This success allowed him to join the Badgers track and cross country teams as a senior from Sheboygan.

The move to Madison has brought significant changes to Ramos daily routine and athletic development. He notes that the intensity of competition is markedly higher at the top tier. Every opponent is now at his level or above, which has pushed him to improve his times across all events. Beyond the physical demands, he cites the opportunity to compete on the largest stages and the associated travel as major attractions for the jump.

Ramos is part of a broader trend of high profile athletes moving from Division III to the Big Ten. In recent years, every school in the conference has at least one such transfer on at least one roster. Within the Badger football program, two players have made similar transitions. Ricky Finco, a junior wide receiver who primarily plays on the scout team, transferred after a year at UW Whitewater. Ryan Ramczyk, who dominated on the offensive line at UW Stevens Point, had an All American season in Madison that raised his profile on NFL draft boards.

However, the transition is not universally successful. Emma Paulson, who swam for UW Madison during her freshman season, found that top level college competition was not the right fit for her. She subsequently transferred to the University of St. Thomas, a Division III institution in Minnesota. Paulson emphasized that individual compatibility with a program is crucial. She observed that what works for one athlete may not work for another, and the environment must align with their personal and athletic needs.

At St. Thomas, Paulson completed a highly decorated career. She earned three individual national championships and nine individual All American designations. She noted that her swimming times remained competitive with Division I standards, but the overall culture felt more appropriate for her lifestyle. She explained that Division I swimming tends to consume an athlete's entire life, whereas Division III allows swimming to be one significant part of life rather than the whole.

Resource disparities between the divisions are a clear factor in these decisions. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, and their facilities are generally smaller in scale. Division I schools typically invest more heavily in facilities and programs. Ramos pointed out that while the running workouts are similar, Madison provides specialized athletic training resources such as ice baths that were absent at Oshkosh. He also credited academic support services, including tutoring at the Fetzer Center and the ability to take exams while traveling, for his academic success.

Paulson highlighted the academic differences at St. Thomas. She is held to the same standards as non athletes and does not have designated academic services, a contrast to the structured support systems available at larger programs. Despite these differing experiences, both Ramos and Paulson stated they would make the same choices again. Ramos described competing for Madison as a dream he had held since middle school, expressing absolute happiness with his current situation.

Coach Eamon McKenna of UW Oshkosh offered cautious advice to athletes facing similar crossroads. He noted that standing out in Division III guarantees opportunities for advancement. However, the critical question for any athlete is whether they can replace the specific factors that made them dominant at their previous school. McKenna admitted that during the recruitment of Ramos, he did not expect the young athlete to win a national championship as a freshman. He described Ramos as good but slightly under the radar, a perception that proved incorrect after the athlete's historic dual victory.