Wisconsin Badgers shooting guard John Tonje delivered a stellar performance, scoring 32 points to lead No.18 Wisconsin to a 77-74 victory against No.7 Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament.
Highlights
- John Tonje contributed 32 points in 34 minutes in the March 15, 2025, Big Ten semi-finals against Michigan State.
- His father, Jean ‘Bertin’ Tonje, is a former soccer player for the Cameroon national team.
- John’s mother, Sara Tonje, serves as the interim pastor at the Presbyterian Church.
John Tonje, a 6-foot-5 guard for the Wisconsin Badgers, has been instrumental in the team’s recent successes.
On March 15, 2025, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin Badgers went against Michigan State University’s Michigan State Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament.
In the semifinal game, No. 7 Michigan State was defeated by No.18 Wisconsin by a 77-74 victory, snapping the Spartans’ eight-game winning streak.
23-year-old, John Tonje filled the playing court with exponential performance, scoring 32 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists in a total of 34 minutes.
John Tonje made some history today 🤩#B1GMBBT x @BadgerMBB pic.twitter.com/alidOhoC8O
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 15, 2025
Moreover, during the game’s final seconds, Badgers guard John missed a pair of free throws, putting Michigan in a position to send the game into overtime with a 3-pointer.
However, Tonje made up for his error, getting a clean touch on the ball just before Spartans’s Jeremy Fears Jr. went for the game-tying heave.
After the team’s incredible performance, Wisconsin will compete against the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines for the Big Ten title on March 16, 2025.
John Tonje’s Father, Jean ‘Bertin’ Tonje, Is A Former Athlete Who Played For The National Team Of Cameroon
Wisconsin rising star John Tonje was born on April 23, 2001, in North Omaha, Nebraska, to his father, Jean ‘Bertin’ Tonje, and mother, Sara Tonje.
Although John’s family does not have a basketball background, he grew up with the guidance of his athletic father, Jean.
Tonje’s father is a native of Cameroon, who played soccer for the national team. He has imparted the sports discipline and the art of working under pressure.
While John played for Colorado State University in 2021, he was contemplating before the match with San Diego State.
Before the match, he was to attend his father, Jean’s weeding. Afterward, head coach Niko Medved and staff encouraged John to attend.
He went up there with the disputes of the game, won in his mind, and took his dad for advice. He said,
Dad, how do you cope with pressure? Are you nervous?
John Tonje
Jean Tonje replied,
You Know what, son, every time you do something that is really important, you just have that feeling. You go for it.
Jean ‘Bertin’ Tonje
Coming back from the wedding to the game, Tonje’s performance and the Corolado team marked the largest comeback in the Mountain West history.
John Tonje’s Faith In God And Self Is Influenced By His Mother Sara, Who Is A Pastor
John’s mother, Sara Tonje, is a native American. She is from Rapid City, South Dakota, and attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.
Moreover, she received her theological education at Princeton Seminary and lived in the mountains of Nepal for over six years.
Starting her responsibilities in February 2025, Sara currently serves as the interim pastor for the Presbyterian Church, Westminster.
Moreover, Sara has imparted the principles and the values of the god’s glory to her children.
John Tonje credits his achievements to his parents and the glory of god. His social media post captions are often dedicated to god and faith. One of his Instagram captions reads,
Stories get good when God is the author…
John Tonje
Furthermore, Sara has guided her children to be dedicated to their strengths and to believe in themselves.
Recently, John Tonje has been seen more often with his mother than with his father. His father, Jean, is with his new family after separating from Sara Tonje around 2021.
However, John respects his parents’ hard work and guidance towards him and their influence in his sports success.
Additional Information
- John Tonje has two brothers, Malcolm and Texan Tonje. Malcolm works as a welder-fabricator at Valmont Industries.
- John earned his bachelor’s degree in business/real estate from Colorado State and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sports leadership.
