Ramos moves to Madison, completing Division III presence on every Big Ten roster

McKena Ramos arrived at the University of Wisconsin-Madison after a standout season at UW-Oshkosh, where he earned five All-American honors and two national titles. His transfer completes a growing trend across the Big Ten, as all 18 schools in the conference now list at least one Division III transfer on their rosters.

Ramos, a senior from Sheboygan, set a private benchmark for his freshman year at UW-Oshkosh: winning a national championship would trigger a move to Division I. He achieved that goal by claiming the indoor 800-meter and outdoor 1500-meter titles. “I didn't think it was going to happen, I just made a little bet with myself,” Ramos said. He then transferred to Madison, where he now competes in both track and cross-country.

His coach at Oshkosh, Eamon McKenna, did not initially predict such a rapid rise. “When we were recruiting him, I didn't think he would be able to come in and win a national championship as a freshman,” McKenna said. “We knew he was good and we knew he was a little bit under the radar.” Ramos noted that the increased competition level at Madison has improved his times, describing the environment as one where “everyone is on your level and up.”

Other athletes have made similar jumps with varying success. On the Badgers football team, wide receiver Ricky Finco transferred from UW-Whitewater after a year, while offensive lineman Ryan Ramczyk moved from UW-Stevens Point to Madison, where an All-American season boosted his NFL Draft prospects. Conversely, swimmer Emma Paulson moved in the opposite direction. After concluding that Division I competition was not the right fit during her freshman year at Madison, she transferred to the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

Paulson finished her career at St. Thomas with three national championships and nine All-American honors. She said her times matched Division I standards, but the lifestyle suited her better. “Swimming DI, it kind of takes over your life in a sense, but DIII [is] just a part of your life,” she said. Paulson is held to the same academic standards as non-athletes at St. Thomas, with no designated academic support services.

Resource disparities remain a defining difference between the levels. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, and their facilities are generally smaller than those at Division I institutions. Ramos credited the Fetzer Center for tutoring and the ability to take exams while traveling for his academic success in Madison. He also noted access to athletic training facilities like ice baths, which were unavailable at Oshkosh.

Both athletes say they would make the same choice again. Ramos, who had dreamed of competing for Madison since middle school, said, “I am absolutely happy.” McKenna offered advice to other Division III standouts, stating, “If you stand out in DIII, you're going to have opportunities.” The central question for any athlete considering the move, he added, is whether they can replace what makes them dominant at their current school.