Community mourns wrestling coach and ‘Father of Sun Valley’ Tom Ellis

The Sun Valley High School wrestling community lost a friend, a father and a tireless advocate Sunday when Tom Ellis passed away from a brain aneurysm. He was 43 years old.

When Ellis wasn’t coaching the Sun Valley wrestlers or carrying on as president of Aston AA serving Aston, Brookhaven and Parkside, he was assisting his older brother Ernie, the head football coach at Sun Valley.

“I worked with this guy every day,” a shaken Ernie Ellis said Monday. “He tortured me. And I’m going to miss it.”

Tom Ellis was the picture of health and looking forward to what was shaping up as a banner 2024-25 season, his brother said. The Vanguards return four first-team All-Delco wrestlers in Hunter Delaney, Brandon Carr, Darren Miniconzi and Brecken Strickland. Delaney, Carr and Strickland reached the PIAA Class 3A state tournament.

Also slated to return next season is Jameson Strickland, Brecken’s younger sister, who became the first female wrestler at Sun Valley to medal at states, the 148-pounder finishing fourth.

“It frigging awful, man,” Delaney said. “Tommy was the heart and soul of the program. Tommy has impacted so many people in his life. He’s helped so many people. He’s helped guys who needed a father figure. Tommy was the father of Sun Valley.”

Ernie Ellis, 47, said his younger brother was stricken late Friday evening, the wrestling coach’s daughter heroically beginning chest compressions before the ambulance crew arrived.

When word of Ellis’ condition became known, hundreds of friends and members of the Aston area wrestling community visited Crozer Chester Medical Center Saturday and Sunday in support of the Ellis family. Eventually the difficult decision was made to donate the organs. On Monday a Hero Walk was held at Crozer in support of Ellis’ gift of life.

“There had to be over 400 people here Saturday and about 200 yesterday,” Ernie Ellis said. “There was no sign of anything wrong with him. He was probably the healthiest he’s been in a long time. He started working out maybe eight months ago. He was trim and strong.”

Delaney said he last saw Tom Ellis at a practice on Thursday.

“He left early,” Delaney said. “Everyone was like, ‘see you, love you, Tom.’ I was there looking at him (in the hospital) and I was saying to myself, this isn’t real.”

Ernie Ellis said the Gift of Life organ donations “definitely is helping to pick his family up.” That may also begin to soothe the Aston wrestling community in mourning much like during the passing of longtime coach Chuck Grassano in 2020. Tom Ellis was a disciple of Grassano’s, the all-time winningest coach in school history with a 321-121-6 record from 1972-2004. Grassano had long retired before passing away at age 73.

Hundreds attended the Hero Walk, including Carr, who found comfort and competition at Sun Valley after transferring from Archmere Academy.

“It was kind of a continuation of what Tom’s always done,” Carr said. “He’s going to be a donor. We were all there to send him off so he can save a bunch of lives. It’s what Tom has always done and always will be remembered for. Tom means everything. Tom brought me in like family.”

Ellis is a 1999 graduate of Sun Valley where he wrestled at 140 and 152 pounds for three years. He constructed a 42-39 record, including 17-10 as a senior.

In 12 seasons coaching the Sun Valley varsity Ellis was 136-89 (.604), including 36-27 (.571) in the Ches-Mont League. The Vanguards have a streak of five straight undefeated league championship seasons.

Including Strickland, Ellis coached the Vanguards to seven medals in the state tournament. Hunter Catka won gold medals there in 2018 (220 pounds) and 2020 (285) before moving on to wrestle at Virginia Tech. Younger brother Ryan Catka, now at the University of Virginia, finished third in 2020 and 2021. Ellis had a soft spot in his heart for Alex Elliott, his first medalist who was eighth at 160 pounds in 2015.

The Sun Valley Athletic Department posted a message on X asking that Ellis and his family be kept in the community’s prayers.

“Tommy was a larger-than-life figure in the Aston, Brookhaven and Parkside communities,” the post read. “A man who dedicated his life to the kids in the Penn-Delco School District. He not only served as our coach the last 12 years, but he served as Aston AA president as well. In both roles and in his role as the leader of the Black Sheep Wrestling Club, Tommy coached thousands of kids and was a positive influence on thousands more. From a wrestling perspective he took a small school in Delco and made it a well-respected regional powerhouse.”

It may help the Vanguards that the program will be loaded with seniors at the varsity level next year. By then some of the shock will dissipate. But they will not forget how suddenly life can change.

“Next year is going to be our best year,” Delaney said. “The team, collectively, is going to do it for Tommy.”