Gladiators announce team awards
May 18, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Las Vegas Gladiators News Release
The Las Vegas Gladiators announced their team awards for the 2006 season today. Lineman Steve Konopka was named the team's Most Valuable Player; Joe Douglass earned Ironman of the Year honors; Wilky Bazile was named Defensive Player of the Year; Marcus Nash garnered the Offensive Player of the Year award and Rob Gatrell was named the team's Lineman of the Year.
Konopka (6'4", 295, Central Connecticut State) was named the team's Most Valuable Player following an outstanding season on both sides of the ball. Despite missing five games, Konopka tied for the team lead with 3.5 sacks while totaling 14 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss. The six-year AFL veteran was named Defensive Player of the game in the Gladiators Week 6 victory over the Philadelphia Soul. Offensively, Konopka had one touchdown reception, in what may have been the Gladiators' most exciting play of the season. In Week 15, Konopka took a screen pass 43 yards, breaking tackles and weaving through the Arizona defense, for the score.
Douglass (5'11", 185, Montana) earned team Ironman honors for the second consecutive season. He finished the year second on the Gladiators with 69 receptions for 779 yards with 15 touchdowns. On defense, he tallied 21 total tackles with one sack, one interception, which he returned for a touchdown, two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown and two forced fumbles.
Bazile (6'4", 285, Syracuse) was the Gladiators emotional leader on both sides of the ball. He tied for the team lead with a career-high 3.5 sacks and five tackles for loss, while leading all Gladiators lineman with 15.5 tackles. Bazile was one of only seven Gladiators to play in all 16 games
Nash, (6'4", 220, Tennessee) finished his third season with the Gladiators with 123 receptions for 1,317 yards with 28 touchdowns. Nash finished the regular season in the top ten in the league in receptions (5th) and receiving touchdowns (10th). also finished second in receptions and third in points scored (258). In his last three seasons, Nash has caught more passes (408) than any other AFL receiver and is second in receiving yards (4,857), and touchdown receptions (115).
Gatrell (6'5", 295, Fresno St.) completed his second season in Las Vegas and third in the AFL in 2006. Despite missing six games due to injury, Gatrell was one of the main cogs in the Gladiators offensive and defensive lines. He totaled 5.5 tackles and one pass break up. Statistics, however, do not measure the consistency that marked Gatrell's 2006 season.
The Gladiators fifth season at the Thomas & Mack Center kicks off in 2007. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Gladiators office at 702-731-4977 or logging onto www.lvgladiators.com.
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