McKena Ramos joins Madison as Big Ten rosters add final D-III transfer

McKena Ramos has completed his transfer from UW-Oshkosh to UW-Madison.

The move places a former Division III standout on the roster of every school in the Big Ten conference.

Ramos arrived at Oshkosh as a recruited track athlete. His coaches did not anticipate he would become a five-time All-American and two-time national champion in his freshman year.

Eamon McKenna, the track and cross-country coach at Oshkosh, noted that the program viewed Ramos as talented but under the radar. "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.

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

The senior from Sheboygan now contributes to both the Badgers' track and cross-country teams. He stated that the higher intensity and tougher competition at Madison have improved his times. "The biggest difference athletically is the competition level; everyone is on your level and up," Ramos said.

Two Badger football players have also made the jump from Division III to the Big Ten. Ricky Finco, a junior wide receiver who plays mainly on the scout team, transferred after one year at UW-Whitewater. Ryan Ramczyk, an offensive lineman, dominated at UW-Stevens Point before posting an All-American season at Madison that improved his standing on NFL Draft boards.

The transition is not successful for every athlete. Emma Paulson concluded her freshman season on UW-Madison's swim team and transferred to the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. She determined that top-level college competition was not the right fit for her.

At St. Thomas, Paulson finished her career with three individual national championships and nine individual All-American designations. She said her swim times matched Division I standards, but the culture 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.

Resources differ between the two levels. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, and their facilities are generally smaller than those at Division I schools. Ramos noted that running workouts are similar, but Madison has athletic training facilities like ice baths that Oshkosh lacked. He also credited tutoring at the Fetzer Center and the ability to take exams while traveling for his academic success. Paulson stated that she is held to the same standards as non-athletes at St. Thomas and has no designated academic services.

Both athletes said they would make the same choice again. Ramos noted that competing for Madison had been his dream since middle school. McKenna offered advice to other athletes in similar positions. "If you stand out in DIII, you're going to have opportunities," he said. The key question is whether an athlete can replace whatever makes them dominant at their current school.