UW-Oshkosh runner wins two national titles, transfers to Big Ten

McKena Ramos transferred from UW-Oshkosh to UW-Madison after winning the indoor 800-meter and outdoor 1500-meter national titles during his freshman year. The senior from Sheboygan now runs for the Badgers in both track and cross-country. Ramos said he privately bet on himself that winning a national title as a freshman would justify the move to Division I.

Eamon McKenna, the track and cross-country coach at UW-Oshkosh, said the program did not anticipate Ramos reaching that level. “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 attributed his improved times at Madison to the higher competition level. “The biggest difference athletically is the competition level; everyone is on your level and up,” he said. He also cited the travel schedule and the opportunity to compete on the largest stage as key factors in his decision.

Ramos is one of several high-profile athletes who have moved from Division III to the Big Ten recently. Every school in the conference currently has at least one such transfer on a roster. On UW-Madison’s football team, junior wide receiver Ricky Finco transferred after a year at UW-Whitewater. Ryan Ramczyk played the offensive line at UW-Stevens Point before an All-American season in Madison boosted his standing on NFL Draft boards.

The transition is not always successful. Emma Paulson swam for UW-Madison during her freshman season before concluding that the pace did not suit her. 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,” Paulson said.

Paulson finished her career at St. Thomas with three individual national championships and nine individual All-American designations. She noted that while her times met Division I standards, the culture at St. Thomas felt more appropriate. “Swimming DI, it kind of takes over your life in a sense, but DIII [is] just a part of your life,” she said.

Facility differences remain a distinct factor in the decision. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, and their facilities are generally smaller. Ramos credited Madison’s ice baths and tutoring at the Fetzer Center for his academic and physical progress. Paulson said she is held to the same academic standards as non-athletes at St. Thomas. McKenna advised athletes considering a move to assess whether they can replace what makes them dominant at their current school.