Big Ten Rosters: Final D-III Transfer Joins Madison

UW-Madison track athlete McKena Ramos has joined the Badgers, completing a roster shift that now places at least one Division III transfer on every Big Ten team. This marks the final school in the 18-member conference to add such an athlete.

Ramos arrived at UW-Oshkosh as a recruited runner. His coach, Eamon McKenna, did not anticipate the athlete would become a five-time All-American and two-time national champion in a single season. McKenna noted that the team knew Ramos was good but considered him under the radar during recruitment.

Ramos set a personal goal before the indoor national meet. He decided that winning a freshman title would justify moving to Division I. He won the indoor 800-meter and outdoor 1500-meter championships. He then transferred to Madison.

The senior from Sheboygan now contributes to both track and cross-country. Ramos states that the higher competition level has improved his times. He described the athletic environment as intense, noting that every competitor is at his level or above. He also cited the travel and the chance to compete on a major stage as key factors in his decision.

Ramos is part of a growing group of athletes making this jump. Two Badger football players have followed similar paths. Ricky Finco, a junior wide receiver, transferred from UW-Whitewater. Ryan Ramczyk played at UW-Stevens Point before having an All-American season at Madison that raised his NFL Draft stock.

The move is not universally successful. Emma Paulson left UW-Madison swimming after her freshman year. She transferred to the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, a Division III school. Paulson stated that the fit was not right for her at the top level. She said, '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 finished her career at St. Thomas with three individual national titles and nine All-American honors. She noted that her times matched Division I standards, but the culture aligned with Division III. She described Division I swimming as taking over her life, whereas Division III is just a part of it.

Resource differences are a primary factor in these decisions. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships. Their facilities are generally smaller than those at Division I institutions. Ramos said his running workouts are similar at both schools, but Madison provides athletic training facilities like ice baths that Oshkosh lacked. He also credited the Fetzer Center for tutoring and allowed him to take exams while traveling.

Paulson reported that she is held to the same academic standards as non-athletes at St. Thomas. She has no designated academic services there. Both athletes say they would make the same choice again. Ramos said he is absolutely happy, noting that competing for Madison had been his dream since middle school.

McKenna offered advice to athletes considering a similar move. He said that standing out in Division III creates opportunities. The key question is whether an athlete can replace what makes them dominant at their current school.