GALESBURG, Ill. — The College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced its Academic All-District Teams for men's soccer across each of the NCAA Divisions and NAIA, and Knox College had six student-athletes earn recognition for Division III — seniors Luka Bagi, Arito Nakamichi, Juan Perez Mejia and Yosuke Yabuki, junior Kestervens Dera and sophomore Joao Gaspar.

Bagi, a defender from Bideford, United Kingdom, was instrumental in the Prairie Fire's defensive efforts all season, starting each of the 16 games. The business and management major had a hand in each of the five shutouts posted by Knox as the team went 7-5-4 on the season.

A physics major out of Kanazawa, Japan, Nakamichi was fifth on the Prairie Fire with seven points on two goals and three assists in the 2025 season. The midfielder's goal in the 2-1 victory over Coe College was the game-winner, and he finished his career with 11 goals and three assists over three seasons. This is the second time Nakamichi has been named to the Academic All-District Team, receiving the honor last year as well.

Perez Mejia, a computer science and econometrics double major from Medellin, Colombia, played in every game this fall up front. The forward attempted four shots, each of which was on goal, and completed his four years on the pitch with three goals and three assists over 59 games in his career.

A burst of energy every time he took the field, Yabuki came into his own in his final season, playing in 15 of the 16 games while starting two. A business and management major, the native of Tokyo, Japan, attempted eight shots with one on net.

Dera, a pre-med major from Palm Bay, Florida, led Knox with 14 points, scoring five goals while assisting on four others. Three of his five goals were game-winners, tied for third in the Midwest Conference, and he also ranked among the top 10 in the league in assists. He will enter his senior year next fall with 16 goals and five assists to his credit.

A business and management major, Gaspar was another key cog in the Prairie Fire's defensive machine, starting all 16 games. The native of Leiria, Portugal, also provided a little offense, assisting on goals in the season-opening tie with North Central and again in the 1-0 triumph over Illinois College.

To be considered for Academic All-District honors, a soccer player must be in at least a sophomore academically and athletically, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and have played in at least 90 percent of their team's games or started at least 66 percent of the contests.