ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Mitch Dean and John Carayiannis became the latest Belmont Abbey wrestlers to earn All-American status following the opening day of competition at the NCAA Division II Wrestling National Championships Friday at Chaifetz Arena.
 
It is the third All-American honor for Dean in his career while it is the first such distinction for Carayiannis.
 
Carayiannis got his day off to a strong start in the 141-pound weight class  by earning a pin over the No. 8 seed Keaten Schorr of Augustana (SD). Dean later followed that up with a victory in his first match in the 165-pound weight class, a victory via an 11-4 decision over Ruben Garcia of Colorado State-Pueblo.
 
Both Dean and Carayiannis were defeated in their respective quarterfinal bouts but still had a chance to earn All-American status with one more win.
 
The wrestlers did just that with Carayiannis using an early takedown to defeat McKendree's Brody Norman 5-1 while Dean earned seven points in the final period to defeat Millersville's Brandon Conner in a 9-3 decision.
 
Connor Weeks competed in two matches in the 174-pound weight class. He started the day facing off against the top-seed Austin Eldredge of Nebraska-Kearney and followed that with a match against Mercyhurst's Dillon Walker. Weeks fell in both matches via decision, 5-4 and 10-6, respectively.
 
RESULTS
141 pounds
First Round: John Carayiannis (Belmont Abbey) def. (8) Keaten Schorr (Augustana) (Fall 6:25)
Quarterfinals: No. 1 seed Joey Bianchini (St. Cloud State) def. John Carayiannis (Belmont Abbey) (MD 10-2)
Consolation: John Carayiannis (Belmont Abbey) def. Brody Norman (McKendree) (Dec 5-1)
 
165 pounds
First Round: (3) Mitch Dean (Belmont Abbey) def. Ruben Garcia (CSU-Pueblo) (Dec 11-4)
Quarterfinals: (6) Cory Peterson (McKendree) def. (3) Mitch Dean (Belmont Abbey) (Dec 3-2)
Consolation: (3) Mitch Dean (Belmont Abbey) def. Brandon Conner (Millersville) (Dec 9-3)
 
174 pounds
First Round: (1) Austin Eldredge (Nebraska-Kearney) def. Connor Weeks (Belmont Abbey) (Dec 5-4)
Consolation: Dillon Walker (Mercyhurst) def. Connor Weeks (Belmont Abbey) (Dec 10-6)
 
UP NEXT

• Carayiannis and Dean will resume the competition beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern time Saturday.
• Carayiannis will face Tyler Warner of West Liberty to begin Saturday.Dean will face Hunter Mullin of Western Colorado for his first matchup.
• Both wrestlers will be recognized during the Parade of All Americans Saturday evening.