Ramos moves to Madison after D-III titles

McKena Ramos left UW-Oshkosh for the University of Wisconsin-Madison after claiming two national championships in the 2025 season. The senior from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, won the indoor 800-meter and outdoor 1500-meter titles during his freshman year at Oshkosh, a Division III program. He made the switch to the Big Ten because the higher competition level aligned with a personal goal he had set before the indoor meet.

Eamon McKenna, the track and cross-country coach at UW-Oshkosh, admitted the team did not anticipate Ramos would win a national title as a freshman. McKenna noted that Ramos was a solid recruit but flew under the radar compared to other Division I prospects. Ramos said he made a private wager with himself that a freshman championship would justify the jump to Division I. When he won both titles, he decided to move to Madison.

Ramos is now part of the Badgers' track and cross-country programs. He stated that the intensity of competition at Madison has improved his times across all events. He cited the presence of elite athletes and the opportunity to race at the highest level as primary motivations for the transfer. The move allows him to test his speed against the best collegiate competitors in the country.

Ramos is not alone in this transition. Every Big Ten school now lists at least one transfer from a Division III institution on its rosters. In Madison football, two players have followed a similar path. Ricky Finco, a junior wide receiver, transferred from UW-Whitewater after one season. He currently plays primarily on the scout team. Ryan Ramczyk moved from UW-Stevens Point to Madison and posted an All-American season that boosted his ranking in the NFL Draft.

The shift to Division I does not work for every athlete. Emma Paulson swam for UW-Madison during her freshman season before transferring to the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. She concluded that the lifestyle of Division I swimming was too demanding for her personal needs. At St. Thomas, a Division III school, she finished her career with three individual national championships and nine All-American honors. Paulson said her swimming times matched Division I standards, but the cultural fit was better at St. Thomas.

Resource differences between the divisions are distinct. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, and their facilities are generally smaller than those in Division I. Ramos noted that while the running workouts are similar, Madison provides access to athletic training equipment like ice baths that Oshkosh lacks. He also benefited from tutoring services at the Fetzer Center and the ability to take exams while traveling for competition. Paulson stated that she faces the same academic expectations as non-athletes at St. Thomas, without designated academic support.

Both Ramos and Paulson said they would make the same decision again. Ramos described competing for Madison as a dream he had since middle school. McKenna advised athletes to consider whether they can maintain their dominance at a higher level. He noted that standout performers in Division III will have opportunities to move up, but the key is replacing the specific advantages that made them successful at their previous school.