McKena Ramos: How a D-III Champion Helped Every Big Ten School Find Its Transfer

All 18 member schools in the Big Ten conference currently list at least one athlete who transferred from a Division III program. This roster composition marks a shift in how top-tier college athletics recruit talent from non-scholarship institutions. The movement reflects a growing pipeline between the two divisions.

McKena Ramos, a senior from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, exemplifies this trend. He arrived at UW-Oshkosh as a recruited track athlete with a profile that flew under the radar. His coaches did not anticipate his immediate dominance. Eamon McKenna, the track and cross-country coach at UW-Oshkosh, recalled the recruitment period. "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 set a personal benchmark before the indoor national meet. He decided that winning a title as a freshman would justify a move to Division I. "I didn't think it was going to happen, I just made a little bet with myself," Ramos said. He subsequently won the indoor 800-meter title and the outdoor 1500-meter title. He then transferred to UW-Madison.

Since joining the Badgers, Ramos has contributed to both the track and cross-country teams. He attributes his improved times to the higher intensity of competition. "The biggest difference athletically is the competition level; everyone is on your level and up," he said. He also cites the travel schedule and the opportunity to compete on major stages as primary motivators for the move.

The shift is not limited to track and field. Two Badger football players have made similar jumps from Division III schools. Ricky Finco, a junior wide receiver who primarily plays on the scout team, transferred from UW-Whitewater after a single season. Ryan Ramczyk played on the offensive line at UW-Stevens Point before posting an All-American season in Madison. His performance in the Big Ten has elevated his standing on NFL Draft boards.

The move to Division I does not suit every athlete. Emma Paulson concluded her freshman season on the UW-Madison swim team and decided that the level of competition was not the right fit. She transferred to the University of St. Thomas, a Division III school in Minnesota. "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 said.

Paulson finished her career at St. Thomas with three individual national championships and nine individual All-American designations. She noted that her swim times matched Division I standards, but the culture aligned more closely with Division III. "Swimming DI, it kind of takes over your life in a sense, but DIII [is] just a part of your life," she said.

Resource gaps remain a distinct factor in these decisions. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, and their facilities are generally smaller than those at Division I institutions. Ramos noted that while running workouts are similar, Madison offers athletic training facilities such as ice baths that Oshkosh lacked. He also credited the 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 academic standards as non-athletes at St. Thomas and has no designated academic services.

Both Ramos and Paulson said they would make the same choices again. Ramos called himself absolutely happy, noting that competing for Madison had been his dream since middle school. McKenna offered advice to athletes considering a similar move. "If you stand out in DIII, you're going to have opportunities," McKenna said. He added that the key question is whether an athlete can replace whatever makes them dominant at their current school.