UW-Madison athletes describe the reality of moving up from Division III

McKena Ramos won two national titles as a freshman at UW-Oshkosh. He then transferred to UW-Madison, a move that changed his daily routine, his competition level, and his access to training resources.

Ramos, a senior from Sheboygan, was recruited to UW-Oshkosh as a track athlete. His coach, Eamon McKenna, admitted the team did not expect him to win a national championship as a freshman. McKenna noted that Ramos was a bit under the radar during the recruiting process.

Ramos set a personal condition before the indoor national meet. He decided that winning a title as a freshman would be the reason to consider moving to Division I. He won the indoor 800-meter race and the outdoor 1500-meter race. He then joined the Badgers program.

Since arriving in Madison, Ramos has run for both the track and cross-country teams. He said the higher intensity of the competition has helped him improve his times. He described the biggest athletic difference as the level of competition, noting that everyone in the pool is on his level or above. He also cited the travel and the chance to compete on the highest stage as major draws.

Ramos is not the only athlete making this jump. Several high-profile players have moved from Division III schools to the Big Ten in recent years. Every school in the conference has at least one such transfer on a roster. Two Badger football players have followed a similar path. Ricky Finco, a junior wide receiver, transferred to Madison after a year at UW-Whitewater. Ryan Ramczyk played offensive line at UW-Stevens Point before having an All-American season in Madison that raised his profile with NFL Draft scouts.

The move up does not suit every athlete. Emma Paulson swam for UW-Madison during her freshman season. She decided that top-level college competition 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 at St. Thomas 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. She noted that swimming at the Division I level takes over a person's life, while Division III is just a part of it.

Resources differ clearly between the two levels. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, and their facilities are generally smaller than those at Division I schools. Ramos said the running workouts are largely the same at both schools. However, 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 said they would make the same choice again. Ramos said he is absolutely happy, noting that competing for Madison had been his dream since middle school.

McKenna offered cautious advice to athletes in similar positions. He said that if an athlete stands out in Division III, they will have opportunities. He added that the key question is whether an athlete can replace whatever makes them dominant at their current school.