PEMBROKE, N.C. – Belmont Abbey wrestlers Mitch Dean, Connor Weeks and John Carayiannis became the latest Crusaders to qualify for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships following the Super Regionals Saturday at UNC Pembroke.
 
Dean won his third straight regional title in the 165-pound weight class defeating Emmanuel's Connor Smith in the quarterfinals, Corey Christe of Coker in the semifinals and Rashaan Vereen of UNC Pembroke in the final.
 
Weeks defeated Mount Olive's Mike Vernagallo and UNC Pembroke's Shylik Scriven in his first two bouts in the 174 pound weight class to reach the final and finished as the regional runner-up.
 
Carayiannis was able to win his third place bout thanks to a fall against Newberry's Devan Moore. He finished 4-1 for the day.
 
The Crusaders placed eight wrestlers in the top six, which is a new program high. The team also finished fourth overall in the team standings.
 
RESULTS
125
Quarterfinal: Evan Carrigan (NEW) def. Aaron Zebrauskas (BAC) (TF-1.5 5:11 (16-0)
Consolation Round: Gavin Hayes (EMM) def. Aaron Zebrauskas (BAC) (Dec 4-3)
 
133
Quarterfinal: Ben Fielding (BAC) def. Joshua Kincaid (EMM) (Dec 7-5)
Semifinal: Elijah Lusk (LANDER) def. Ben Fielding (BAC) (MD 10-2)
Consolation Semi - David Medina (King) 15-11 def. Ben Fielding (BAC) (Dec 3-2)
5th Place Match - Ben Fielding (BAC) def. Hunter Ross (Coker) (For.)
 
141
Quarterfinal: John Carayiannis (BAC) def. Devan Moore (NEW) (Dec 12-6)
Semifinal: Zeth Brower (Lander) def. John Carayiannis (BAC) (MD 13-0)
Consolation Round: John Carayiannis (BAC) def. Spencer Leonhardt (UMO) (Dec 13-5)
3rd Place Match: John Carayiannis (Belmont Abbey) def. Devan Moore (Newberry) (Fall 4:45)
 
149
Quarterfinal: Tyler Pepe (BAC) def. Nicholas Voiles (EMM) (Dec 5-0)
Semifinal: Isaiah Royal (NEW) def. Tyler Pepe (BAC) (MD 8-0)
Consolation Round: Tyler Pepe (BAC) def James Nutter Benjamin (LU) (Dec 4-0)
3rd Place: Jake Piccirilli (UNCP) def. Tyler Pepe (BAC) (Dec 8-3)

157
Quarterfinal: Jake Nicolosi (UMO) def. Tyler Gregor (BAC) (Dec 7-3)
Consolation Round: Nolan Wheeler (NEW) def. Tyler Gregor (BAC) (Fall 2:57)
 
165
Quarterfinal: Mitch Dean (BAC) def. Connor Smith (EMM) (MD 24-10)
Semifinal: Mitch Dean (BAC) def. Corey Christe (Coker) (Dec 12-4)
1st Place Match: Mitch Dean (BAC) def. Rahsaan Vereen (UNCP) (Dec 3-2)
 
174
Quarterfinal: Connor Weeks (BAC) def. Mike Vernagallo (UMO) (Inj. 0:24)
Semifinal: Connor Weeks (BAC) def. Shylik Scriven (UNCP) (Dec 8-5)
1st Place Match: Caleb Spears (NEW) def. Connor Weeks (BAC) (Dec 9-6)
 
184
Quarterfinal: JaQuez Bostic (LU) def. Mason Kump (BAC) (Dec 6-4)
Consolation Round 2: Mason Kump (BAC) def. Slade Watkins (UMO) (Fall 4:04)
Cons. Round 3: Mason Kump (BAC) def. Micha Clemson (Emmanuel) (Dec 7-5)
Cons. Semi: Mason Kump (BAC) def. Carter Shipp (Lander ) (Dec 3-2)
3rd Place Match: Jovaun Johnson (UNCP) def. Mason Kump (BAC) (Dec 5-3)
 
197
Championship Round 1: Logan Branham (BAC) def. Hayden Snowden (EMM) (Fall 1:16)
Quarterfinal: Kaleb Haven (NEW) def. Logan Branham (BAC) (Dec 3-2)
Consolation Round: Logan Branham (BAC) def. Levi Kluttz (COKER) (Fall 2:24)
Cons. Semi: Austin Watkins (QU) 13-9 def. Logan Branham (BAC) (Inj. 4:17)
5th Place Match: Kaleb Haven (NEW) def. Logan Branham (BAC) (For.)
 
285
Championship Round 1: Justin Wright (BAC) def. Jerimiah Good (KING) (Fall 4:44)
Quarterfinal: Chase Coffman (LAND) def. Justin Wright (BAC) (TB-1 4-2)
Consolation Round 2: Justin Wright (BAC) def. Joshua Voelkel (QU) (TF-1.5 5:25 15-0)
Consolation Round 3: Justin Wright (BAC) def. Ja'Mond Goodwine (EMM) (Dec 10-2)
Cons. Semi: Justin Wright (BAC) def. Devon Rice (NEW) (TB-1 3-2)
3rd Place Match: Cameron Coffman (Lander) 3-1 def. Justin Wright (BAC) (2-OT 2-2)
 
UP NEXT
Dean, Weeks and Carayiannis will compete at the Division II Wrestling Championships slated for March 11 and 12 at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis.