Tanner Bronson

Tanner Bronson is a basketball player for the Wisconsin Badgers. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 27, 1985. Listed at 5'11, 170 pound, Tanner is a senior guard for the Wisconsin Badgers. Bronson is best known for his inspiring story of team manager his freshman year of college into a basketball team standout and fan favorite for the Badgers.

According to ESPN.com, he records career averages of .5 points, .2 assists, .3 rebounds and .2 steals per game in 133 minutes in 67 game appearances. His most prominent appearances came in the 2005-2006 season when injuries hampered the Badgers, and Bronson made a career high in minutes in a Big Ten Tournament game against Indiana where Bronson recorded 12 minutes and 4 points. Bronson also appeared in 1st half minutes in a 2006 NCAA Tournament 1st round game against Arizona. Bronson is currently finishing up his career as the Badgers make an NCAA tournament run in a Sweet 16 appearance against Davidson.

Bronson grew up in Glendale, WI, a suburb of Milwaukee. His father, Wally, is a local club tennis pro, and mother, Jody the head women's tennis coach at Marquette University, but Tanner decided to take a different sports route. He attended Nicolet High School as a 4'9 85 lb. freshman.

He debuted on the varsity basketball team as a 5'2 105 lb. sophomore. Although the smallest on the court at any given time, he attained honorable mention All-Conference honors his junior season and 1st team All-Conference and 1st All-Suburban honors his senior year. The point guard eventually grew to 5'10 and averaged 12 points per game his senior season.

Although recruited by several Division III and Ivy league schools, Bronson decided to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison and supposedly end his basketball career. Yet, he never gave up his basketball dream, and decided to become a manager for the Badger basketball team his freshman year. Along with his duties of wiping floors, filling water bottles and keeping practice statistics, he got the opportunity to scrimmage in practice with the team because of injuries that resulted in a depleted roster. Bronson wowed players and coaches playing the likes of Kammron Taylor and current New Jersey Net Devin Harris.

At the end of the season, he approached legendary Coach Bo Ryan about the opportunity for a walk-on spot and was awarded one. Bronson continued to impress and after his freshman year earned a full scholarship. Bronson's story became recognized by avid Badger fans and the loudest cheers for the team came at the end of games when Bronson enters. Bronson's inspiring story and reinforcement of the mantra "you don't have to be tall to reach great heights" was noticed by the Associated Press and appeared in several major publications such as the New York Times.

Bronson continues to inspire many nationwide as a senior guard and still receives "Tanner Bronson" chants on a regular basis. Tanner Bronson is a "bro" despite being just a little guy. Coach Bo Ryan has said Tanner is like another assistant coach on the bench.

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