From Division III standouts to Big Ten rosters: athletes weigh the jump to top-tier programs

McKena Ramos arrived at UW-Oshkosh as a recruited track athlete. His coaches did not expect him to become a five-time All-American and two-time national champion in a single season.

"When we were recruiting him, I didn't think he would be able to come in and win a national championship as a freshman," said Eamon McKenna, who coaches track and cross-country at UW-Oshkosh. "We knew he was good and we knew he was a little bit under the radar."

Ramos had privately set a condition for himself. Heading into the indoor national meet, he decided that winning a title as a freshman would be reason enough to consider moving up to Division I. "I didn't think it was going to happen, I just made a little bet with myself," he said. He then won the indoor 800-meter title and the outdoor 1500-meter title, and he transferred to UW-Madison.

Ramos, a senior from Sheboygan, has contributed to both the Badgers' track and cross-country teams since arriving. He said the tougher competition and higher intensity have helped him improve his times across the board. "The biggest difference athletically is the competition level; everyone is on your level and up," he said, adding that the travel and the chance to compete on the highest stage are also major draws.

His path is uncommon but not unique. Several high-profile athletes have moved from Division III into the Big Ten in recent years, and every school in the conference has at least one such transfer on at least one roster. Two Badger football players have made the same jump as Ramos. Ricky Finco, a junior wide receiver who plays mainly on the scout team, transferred after a year at UW-Whitewater. Ryan Ramczyk dominated on the offensive line at UW-Stevens Point and then had an All-American season in Madison that lifted his standing on NFL Draft boards.

The move up does not suit everyone. Emma Paulson concluded during her freshman season on UW-Madison's swim team that top-level college competition was not right for her, and 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," she said.

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

Resources are one clear difference between the levels. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, and their facilities are generally smaller in scale than those at Division I schools, which tend to invest more in facilities and programs. Ramos said the running workouts are largely the same, but Madison has athletic training facilities such as 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 said she is held to the same standards as non-athletes at St. Thomas and has no designated academic services.

Both athletes say they would make the same choice again. "I am absolutely happy," Ramos said, noting that competing for Madison had been his dream since middle school.

McKenna offered cautious advice to athletes in similar positions. "If you stand out in DIII, you're going to have opportunities," he said. The key question, he added, is whether an athlete can replace whatever makes them dominant at their current school.