BECKLEY, W.Va. — Luka Felix added another historic milestone to his WVU Tech career Tuesday, earning College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America® First Team honors and becoming the first Academic All-American® in program history.
Felix, a senior goalkeeper from Portugal, was selected to the NAIA Academic All-America® First Team as announced by the College Sports Communicators. The award recognizes elite achievement in both academics and athletics and is considered the premier honor for student-athletes nationwide.
A sport management major, Felix posted a 3.83 cumulative GPA while anchoring one of the top defensive units in the NAIA. He advanced to the national ballot after being named to the CSC Academic All-District® Team, which requires a minimum 3.50 GPA and high-level athletic performance.
On the field, Felix delivered one of the strongest seasons by a goalkeeper in program history during the 2025 season. He started 19 matches, logged more than 1,690 minutes, and posted a 0.90 goals-against average with 68 saves. He recorded five shutouts, went 12-0-2 in goal, and helped lead WVU Tech to an 18-1-1 overall record, an unbeaten 9-0 conference mark, and both regular-season and tournament championships.
Felix was recognized as Defensive Player of the Week four times, earned First Team All-Conference honors, and played a key role in a Golden Bear defense that allowed just 18 goals in 23 matches.
Over his career, Felix steadily developed into a program cornerstone. He earned RSC Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2024, was a multi-time all-conference selection, and finished his WVU Tech tenure with 51 appearances, 17 career wins, and nine combined shutouts.
In the classroom, Felix matched his on-field excellence. He was named a RSC Scholar-Athlete in multiple seasons, appeared regularly on the Dean's List, and earned President's List honors during the Spring 2025 semester.
Felix's selection places him among an elite group of student-athletes nationwide. Each year, more than 30,000 student-athletes are nominated for Academic All-District® recognition, with approximately 2,000 advancing to the national Academic All-America® teams across all divisions.
The Academic All-America® program, established in 1952, is selected exclusively by College Sports Communicators and honors the nation's top student-athletes across NCAA, NAIA, two-year colleges, and Canadian institutions.
Felix's achievement represents a landmark moment for WVU Tech Athletics and sets a new standard for excellence in the Golden Bears program.