DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The Delaware Valley University community is mourning the loss of Mark Ambrose, one of the most decorated student-athletes in Aggie history and a member of both the DelVal Athletics Hall of Fame and the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Hall of Fame. Ambrose passed away on Monday, July 14, 2025, at the age of 55.
Ambrose was inducted into the MAC Hall of Fame as part of the conference's centennial celebration during the 2012-13 academic year. He is just the fourth individual from DelVal to receive the honor, joining his former coach Robert Marshall, standout dual-sport athlete Ted Cottrell '69, and former athletic director Ned Linta on the prestigious list.
During his time at DelVal, Ambrose established himself as one of the most dominant wrestlers in NCAA Division III history. He remains one of only two Aggies ever to earn All-America honors in all four collegiate seasons. His legendary 1988-89 campaign included a national championship at 158 pounds, leading a powerhouse team that finished the regular season 18-0 and narrowly missed the NCAA team title by just six points.
Ambrose began his college wrestling career with a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships as a freshman in 1988. He repeated that silver-medal performance in 1990, earned fourth place as a senior in 1991, and concluded his career with a record of 106-6—setting the then-program record for most career wins and posting the second-best winning percentage (.946) in school history.
In addition to his national accolades, Ambrose was a four-time MAC champion in his weight class and twice named the conference's Most Outstanding Wrestler. He helped guide the Aggies to MAC team titles in both 1989 and 1991. His accomplishments were later recognized on a national level when he was inducted into the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III Hall of Fame in 2005.
Ambrose was also a standout in the classroom, earning NWCA Scholar All-American honors twice. After graduating, he channeled his passion for sports into entrepreneurship, becoming the founder, president, and CEO of SA Sports, LLC, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he resided at the time of his passing.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Catholic Church, 4049 Hartley Avenue, Easton, PA 18045.
Mark Ambrose leaves behind a lasting legacy of excellence, leadership, and dedication—on the mat, in the classroom, and in life. He will be deeply missed by the DelVal community and all who knew him.
