RANDY GATEWOOD NAMED 2006 AFL IRONMAN OF THE YEAR
11-year AFL veteran takes yearly award for second time
For the second time in his career, Arizona Rattler wide receiver/defensive back Randy Gatewood has been selected as the Arena Football League’s Ironman of the Year as voted by the League’s head coaches, players, fans and Arena Football League Writers Association (AFWA). The announcement was made live on ESPNews today.

Gatewood (6-0, 185 pounds), who also earned All-Arena first team and All-Ironman honors this season, set career-highs in receptions (89), receiving yards (1,175), and touchdowns (35). His 35 touchdown receptions ranked fifth amongst season leaders. Defensively, he tallied a career-high 64 tackles and was tied for the team lead in interceptions with three. The 11-year veteran earned five weekly awards during the course of the season and was named the league’s “Ironman” for the month of March.

This marks the fourth time a Rattler has received such an honor. Gatewood, who earned the same award in 2003, becomes the third player in AFL history and second player in franchise history to be selected twice, as Hunkie Cooper was chosen in 1999 and 2000. Barry Wagner is the only player to win the award more than two times, taking it six straight seasons while with the Orlando Predators (1992-97). Other nominees for Ironman of the Year were Los Angeles’ Kevin Ingram, Georgia’s Derrick Lee, Grand Rapids’ Timon Marshall and Dallas’ Will Pettis.

Just one day after being selected to the Arena Football League’s “All-Arena Team”, Rattler wide receiver/defensive back Randy Gatewood has been named to the 2006 US Army “All-Ironman Team”, the league announced today. Gatewood (6-0, 185 pounds), who is in his 11th season, won four “Ironman” weekly awards this season, including a monthly honor in March.

The 2003 “Ironman of the Year” finished the season as the Rattler’s top receiver with 89 catches for 1,175 yards and 35 touchdowns. He also led the team in tackles (64) and was tied for the lead in interceptions (3).

This marks the third time Gatewood has been selected to an “All-Ironman Team”, as he accomplished the same feat in 2002 and 2003. It is the seventh time a Rattler has earned such and honor. The three other Rattlers to make the list are: Hunkie Cooper (1999, 2000, 2001), Stacy Evans (2002) and Wendall Gaines (2004).

2006 ALL-IRONMAN TEAM
Fullback/Linebacker Frank Carter (Nashville)
Fullback/Linebacker Dane Krager (Austin)
Fullback/Linebacker Duke Pettijohn (Dallas)
Offensive/Defensive Lineman Hugh Hunter (Colorado)
Offensive/Defensive Lineman Kyle Moore-Brown (Colorado)
Offensive/Defensive Lineman Hans Olson (Utah)
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Mike Brown (Philadelphia)
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Randy Gatewood (Arizona)
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Timon Marshall (Grand Rapids)
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Will Pettis (Dallas)
Wide Receiver/Linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo (Chicago)
Wide Receiver/Linebacker Mike Horacek (New York)
Wide Receiver/Linebacker Derek Lee (Georgia)
Wide Receiver/Linebacker Willis Marshall (Colorado)

GATEWOOD SELECTED TO AFL “ALL-ARENA TEAM”

Rattler wide receiver/defensive back Randy Gatewood has been selected to the Arena Football League’s 2006 “All-Arena Team. Gatewood (6-0, 185 pounds), who earned first team honors, set career-highs in receptions (89), receiving yards (1,175), and touchdowns (35). Defensively, he tallied a career-high 59 tackles and was tied for the team lead in interceptions with three.
The 2006 "Ironman of the Year" candidate earned five weekly awards during the course of the season and was named the league’s “Ironman” for the month of March.

This is the sixth time Gatewood has been selected to an “All-Arena Team”, and the third time he has earned first team honors (1997, 2003). He becomes the 17th Rattler to make the “All-Arena” first team in franchise history.

The Dallas Desperados, who finished the season with a 12-2 record, led the way with three first team selections: quarterback Clint Dolezel, fullback/linebacker Duke Pettijohn, and offensive/defensive lineman Colston Weatherington.

2006 ALL-ARENA FIRST TEAM
Quarterback Clint Dolezel (Dallas)
Fullback/Linebacker Duke Pettijohn (Dallas)
Offensive/Defensive Lineman Colston Weatherington (Dallas)
Offensive/Defensive Lineman Henry Taylor (Orlando)
Offensive/Defensive Lineman Jermaine Smith (Georgia)
Wide Receiver/Linebacker Derek Lee (Georgia)
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Randy Gatewood (Arizona)
Offensive Specialist Damien Harrell (Colorado)
Defensive Specialist Jerald Brown (Columbus)
Defensive Specialist Eddie Moten (Philadelphia)
Kicker Remy Hamilton (Los Angeles)

2006 ALL-ARENA SECOND TEAM
Quarterback Joe Hamilton (Orlando)
Fullback/Linebacker Marlion Jackson (Las Vegas)
Offensive/Defensive Lineman Khreem Smith (Chicago)
Offensive/Defensive Lineman Ernest Allen (Philadelphia)
Offensive/Defensive Lineman Joe Minucci (Nashville)
Wide Receiver/Linebacker Lawrence Samuels (Tampa Bay)
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Kevin Ingram (Los Angeles)
Offensive Specialist Siaha Burley (Utah)
Defensive Specialist Rashad Floyd (Colorado)
Defensive Specialist Clevan Thomas (San Jose)
Kicker Clay Rush (Colorado)