Every Big Ten Roster Includes D-III Transfers

McKena Ramos entered the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh program as a recruited track athlete, but his coaches did not anticipate his immediate dominance. He finished the season as a five-time All-American and two-time national champion. Eamon McKenna, the head coach of track and cross-country at Oshkosh, recalled the surprise of Ramos’s freshman year performance.

"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 condition before the indoor national meet: winning a title as a freshman would trigger a review of his division level. He won the indoor 800-meter and outdoor 1500-meter titles, then transferred to UW-Madison. As a senior from Sheboygan, he now contributes to both the Badgers' track and cross-country teams. Ramos noted that the higher competition level and travel to major stages have improved his times.

His transfer is part of a wider pattern across the Big Ten. Every school in the conference currently lists at least one Division III transfer on at least one roster. Two Badger football players have made similar moves. Ricky Finco, a junior wide receiver on the scout team, arrived from UW-Whitewater. Ryan Ramczyk, an offensive lineman, had an All-American season in Madison after dominating at UW-Stevens Point, which boosted his NFL Draft prospects.

Not every athlete finds the same success in the jump up. Emma Paulson concluded during her freshman year at Madison that Division I swimming was not the right fit for her. She transferred to the University of St. Thomas, a Division III school in Minnesota. Paulson finished her career there with three individual national championships and nine All-American designations.

Paulson said her times matched Division I standards, but the culture suited her better at St. Thomas. "Swimming DI, it kind of takes over your life in a sense, but DIII [is] just a part of your life," she said. She noted that St. Thomas holds her to the same academic standards as non-athletes and does not offer designated academic services for athletes.

Resource gaps remain a practical difference between the divisions. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, and their facilities are generally smaller. Ramos said the running workouts are similar, but Madison provides athletic training tools like ice baths that Oshkosh lacked. He also credited the tutoring at the Fetzer Center and the ability to take exams while traveling. McKenna advised athletes to consider whether they can maintain their dominance at a higher level, noting that standing out in Division III creates opportunities.