Thirty-four student-athletes, including 11 who earned first-team honors, highlight the 2006 Gateway Conference all-academic team, announced by the league office today.

Nominees must be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale).  Student-athletes must have reached sophomore academic and athletic standing at their institutions (freshmen are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at their institution.  League sports information directors voted on the team by designating 11 players for first-team honors and 11 players for second-team honors.

2006 Gateway Academic All-Conference Football Team (voting by league SIDs)

FIRST TEAM
TE Payne Hall, Missouri State, 6-4, 250, Sr., 3.89 Agricultural Business
^ - QB Nick Hill, Southern Illinois, 6-3, 205, Jr., 3.25 Special Education
PK Kyle Hooper, Indiana State, 5-10, 160, Sr., 3.52 Business Management
PK Chris James, Western Kentucky, 6-0, 190, Jr., 3.41 Computer Information Systems
# - C Ryan Jewell, Youngstown State, 6-4, 285, Sr., 3.36 Mechanical Engineering
TE Braden Jones, Southern Illinois, 6-4, 260, Sr., 3.61 Biological Sciences
QB Steve LaFalce, Western Illinois, 6-1, 210, Gr., 3.35 Finance
^ - WR James Lindgren, UNI, 6-0, 196, Sr., 3.81 Construction Management
# - FS Bob Perez, Youngstown State, 6-0, 210, Jr., 3.88 Economics
^ - DB Marion Rumph, Western Ky., 6-1, 195, Jr., 3.48 Computer Science
QB Tom Zetts, Youngstown State, 6-1, 210, Jr., 3.73 Secondary Education

SECOND TEAM
WR Carl Berman, Indiana State, 5-10, 170, Sr., 3.05 Exercise Science
RB Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois, 5-11, 220, So., 3.13 Economics
WR Chris Geisz, Missouri State, 6-2, 207, So., 3.60 Marketing Management
WR Curtis Hamilton, Western Ky., 6-0, 195, Jr., 3.14 Architectural Design
^ - DB Bryan Jackson, Indiana State, 5-11, 220, Jr., 3.53 Marketing
OT Andrew Kernes, Southern Illinois, 6-6, 300, Jr., 3.47 Biological Sciences
LB Jeff Koval, Youngstown State, 6-1, 220, Sr., 3.11 Marketing Management
OL Chad Rinehart, UNI, 6-5, 310, Jr., 3.16, Sports Psychology
QB Ben Schmidt, Indiana State, 6-2, 200, Jr., 3.83 Business Administration
OL Fred Staugh, Indiana State, 6-5, 300, Sr., 3.52 Business Management
OL Frank Valle, Western Illinois, 6-3, 295, Sr., 3.40 Finance
^ - FB J.T. Wise, Southern Illinois, 6-1, 230, Sr., 3.20 Physical Education

HONORABLE MENTION
Illinois State:  LS Jake Weber
Missouri State:  FS Mike Radon, LB Kevin Sears, # - OC David Tillman
Northern Iowa:  WR Curt Bradley, TE Ross Hannam
Southern Illinois:  WR Ryan Beeler; QB Jon Cairns, LB Trevor Moe
Western Illinois:  DL Chad Groenhagen
Youngstown State:  OG Brad Samsa

^ - Academic All-District Selections (1st Team); # - Academic All-District Selections (2nd Team)