Submitted Photo Dunkirk native Jennifer DePasquale, pictured, is set to purchase the Buffalo Brawlers professional cornhole team from Pete Mann, right.

Last season, the Buffalo Brawlers claimed the North American Cornhole Association Championship. Now, they have a new owner, and it is not only one of their own, it’s Dunkirk’s own, too.

Jennifer DePasquale is set to purchase the Buffalo Brawlers to take over as the team’s owner.

“I’m super excited. Nervous, but excited,” DePasquale said.

DePasquale, a standout player on the team, is purchasing the team from Pete Mann. As an owner of the entire league, North American Cornhole Association (NACA), Mann elected to sell the Brawlers due to a conflict of interest.

“He presented me an opportunity to buy him out, so I took it,” DePasquale said.

The opportunity could not have come at a better time for DePasquale, as the league has grown from five to 15 teams in recent years. Teams are split into three regions: Lake Erie, Tri-State, and Southwest Ohio. The Brawlers brought home $30,000 in prize money for winning both a regional and overall championship a year ago to cap off an undefeated season.

Taking over the defending champion organization of a thriving league in a growing sport was too good to pass up for the Dunkirk native.

“It just was a no-brainer for me to do it now,” DePasquale said.

DePasquale discovered her passion for the sport of cornhole during the pandemic, and after years of honing her craft, she became part of the Brawlers when the professional league launched under a different name and leadership. The Brawlers then left the league after one year and joined the newly formed NACA.

DePasquale is a former multi-sport standout athlete at Dunkirk High School, who then played both softball and basketball collegiately at Alfred State. DePasquale concluded her softball career at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, where she also played rugby. She then was a coach at Gowanda High School and Fredonia State University. She is the daughter of Joe and Linda DePasquale.

DePasquale is excited to be taking over the team she has competed for in recent years. She was one of four members of the Brawlers last season, alongside Hunter Meyette, Mike “Junior” Rabenhorst, Jr., and Ken “Mamba” Marx.

As owner, DePasquale will not be stepping back from playing. In fact, she will be even more involved. DePasquale will be the team’s acting General Manager in the yearly draft following tryouts. As an owner, she will not be eligible to be taken by another team.

Terms of the sale of the Brawlers were not made public, but DePasquale will pay ownership dues every few years following the initial purchase.

“It’s more of an investment in my future,” DePasquale said.

As an owner, DePasquale will pay dues every few years, but she will benefit from ticket sales, merchandise and league sponsors. With the league hopeful of landing a major sponsor, DePasquale hopes to use her power as the owner of a team as a way to get attention for local businesses from her hometown. DePasquale believes that businesses in Chautauqua County can benefit from the exposure that they will get as a sponsor of her team.

“I know a lot of local business owners that I’m hoping to jump on this for themselves, so they can get their name out there too,” DePasquale said.

The league will be streaming games on YouTube, Facebook, and potentially televised down the road. Sponsorship opportunities include logo placement on Brawlers jerseys and apparel, as well as on broadcasts.

“It’s a big deal and I’m hoping they jump on it,” DePasquale said.

DePasquale will be celebrating her purchase of the Brawlers on Friday at 64 on the Rocks at 7 p.m., with merchandise and other items for sale at the celebration. The community is encouraged to attend.