Hall of Fame
As a junior, Van De Mark became Grove City College’s first-ever national champion when he won both one- and three-meter diving titles at the 1981 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships in Oberlin, Ohio.
Van De Mark became the first diver in the seven-year history of the Division III Championships to win both diving events.
In 1982, Van De Mark repeated as NCAA champion on the one-meter board and also earned runner-up honors on the three-meter board at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va.
He became the first NCAA Division III diver to win multiple one-meter titles after posting a victorious score of 437.75 points in 11 dives. Van De Mark also set a new Grove City record in three-meter diving with 498.65 points at the 1982 Championships while earning runner-up honors.
As a freshman at the NCAA Championships in 1979, he placed fifth in the one-meter diving competition to become the fifth Grove City diver to earn NCAA All-America honors.
One year later, he placed second off the low board and ninth in the three-meter event. The Lockport, N.Y. native finished his college career as a seven-time NCAA All-American.
A two-time team MVP, Van De Mark won both diving events at the 1982 Penn-Ohio Championships in Cleveland. He established new school records in both diving events and helped lead the Wolverines to a 12-0 dual meet record during his senior season.
Van De Mark helped Grove City post a 37-9 dual-meet record during his four seasons. Grove City also finished in the top 20 at the NCAA meet in 1980, 1981 and 1982.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics in 1982.
