2 days Ago By Bob Grotz
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’ conditio.
