Making the leap: DIII stars find new homes in the Big Ten

College athletics is shifting, with more talented students leaving smaller colleges to join powerhouse conferences. This trend has created a new pipeline of high-level competitors entering major programs from the lower divisions.

The numbers suggest this is becoming common. In the Big Ten, every school currently has at least one player or athlete who transferred from a Division III institution. These moves are not limited to one sport either. The jump is happening across various rosters, indicating a broader change in how student athletes plan their careers.

McKena Ramos serves as a prime example of this movement. He came to UW-Oshkosh as a recruited runner, but his coaches did not predict he would become a national champion so quickly. Eamon McKenna, his coach, admitted that the team saw Ramos as a good athlete but kept him under the radar. Ramos won the indoor 800-meter and outdoor 1500-meter titles as a freshman. He had made a private bet with himself that winning those races would be enough to justify moving up. He then transferred to UW-Madison, where he is now a senior from Sheboygan.

The stakes for these athletes are high. They are chasing better competition and bigger stages. Ramos noted that the intensity at the Big Ten level has improved his times. He also values the travel opportunities and the chance to compete on the highest level. Other players have followed similar paths. On the football side, Ricky Finco moved from UW-Whitewater to Madison, where he is a junior wide receiver. Ryan Ramczyk went from UW-Stevens Point to an All-American season in Madison, which boosted his standing for the NFL Draft.

However, the move does not always work out. Emma Paulson tried the top level during her freshman year at UW-Madison but found it did not fit her life. She transferred back to the University of St. Thomas, a Division III school in Minnesota. There, she finished her career with three individual national titles and nine All-American honors. Paulson explained that while her swimming times matched Division I standards, the culture of Division III was a better match for her.

Resources are a major factor in these decisions. Division III schools do not offer athletic scholarships, and their facilities are generally smaller. Ramos pointed out that while the workouts are similar, Madison has specific amenities like ice baths that Oshkosh did not have. He also credited the academic support at the Fetzer Center, including tutoring and the ability to take exams while traveling. In contrast, Paulson said she is held to the same academic standards as other students at St. Thomas, with no special services.

Both athletes said they would make the same choice again. Ramos described competing for Madison as a dream he held since middle school. McKenna offered advice to other athletes considering the switch. He said that standing out in Division III creates opportunities, but the key question is whether an athlete can replace what made them dominant at their previous school.