'Exceptional' Methacton Grad, All American Athlete, Dies At 22

LOWER PROVIDENCE, PA — A recent Methacton High School graduate and renown All American athlete died in a car accident Tuesday. He was 22-years-old.

Tonee Ellis, a 2019 graduate of Methacton, went on to attend Alvernia and then Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was a junior at the time of his death.

Ellis was driving on Route 22 in Perry County at around 7 a.m. Tuesday went he lost control of his car and hit a tree, police said. The vehicle then caught fire.

A GoFundMe has been launched to support Ellis' family and to help pay for his memorial services. As of Wednesday afternoon, nearly $800 had been raised.

Family and friends remembered a deeply dedicated, humble man who, in addition to sports, had a passion for the the natural world. He was studying ecology and evolutionary biology at IUP.

"He carried his love for nature and the environment with him, inspiring those around him to appreciate and protect our planet," friend Percy Jones wrote in the GoFundMe.

Ellis' achievements at Methacton were, as Jones put it, "nothing short of extraordinary." He was named an All American in wrestling, and was a first team All PAC-Liberty league defensive lineman. He finished his senior season with 68 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 4 fumble recoveries.

Ellis continued his athletic career at Alvernia University, where he earned a 29-10 record in the 197 pound weight class. He qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championships in 2020.

"Throughout his journey, Tonee remained a humble soul, never seeking help for himself but always being the first to extend a helping hand to others in need," his GoFundMe reads.

Services have not yet been announced.

To donate to the fundraiser and to learn more about Ellis's life, see here.