UW-Madison adds fifth DIII transfer as Big Ten rosters expand

McKenna Ramos has officially joined the University of Wisconsin-Madison track and cross-country squads, marking the latest addition to a growing pool of athletes who have transferred from Division III schools into the Big Ten. The senior from Sheboygan arrives with two national titles and five All-American honors, a track record that places him among the most decorated transfer recruits in recent conference history.

Ramos originally committed to UW-Oshkosh as a recruited track athlete. Eamon McKenna, who coaches the program, admitted that the staff did not anticipate such a rapid ascent. "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."

The transfer decision followed a specific personal benchmark. Ramos told himself that winning a national championship as a freshman would be sufficient reason to consider moving up. He achieved that goal by taking the indoor 800-meter title and the outdoor 1500-meter title before making the move to Madison. He described the change in competition level as the primary athletic driver. "The biggest difference athletically is the competition level; everyone is on your level and up," he said.

Ramos is not the only athlete to make this leap. Every school in the Big Ten currently lists at least one such transfer on at least one roster. In football, Ricky Finco, a junior wide receiver, moved from UW-Whitewater to Madison and currently plays on the scout team. Ryan Ramczyk, an offensive lineman, transferred from UW-Stevens Point to Madison where he posted an All-American season that improved his standing on NFL Draft boards.

The transition is not universally successful. Emma Paulson, a swimmer, initially moved from a Division III school to UW-Madison for her freshman season. She determined that the intensity of top-level college competition was not the right fit and returned to the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Paulson finished her career at St. Thomas with three individual national championships and nine All-American designations.

Paulson noted that her swimming times met Division I standards, but the cultural environment 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. She highlighted that Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships and generally operate with smaller facilities than their Division I counterparts.

Resource availability remains a distinct factor for athletes making the choice. Ramos credited specific amenities at Madison, such as ice baths and the tutoring support at the Fetzer Center, for his development. He also noted the ability to take exams while traveling as a key academic advantage over his time at Oshkosh. Paulson, conversely, reported being held to the same standards as non-athletes at St. Thomas, with no designated academic services provided.

Both athletes stated they would make the same decision again. Ramos described competing for Madison as a dream he had held since middle school. McKenna offered advice to other Division III athletes considering a move, noting that standing out creates opportunities. The central question, he added, is whether an athlete can maintain their dominance at a higher level of competition.