Local Professional Football Player, Tuni Ropati, Signs With Bay Area Panthers (IFL)

WESTFIELD, Ind. - Jan. 21, 2022 - PRLog -- Black Diamond PR & Sport Management Firm, one of the top 10 independently owned Sport Management Firms in the U.S., is pleased to announce the signing of their client, and Westfield native, Tuni Ropati, to the Orlando Predators. The Orlando Predators are a professional arena team in the National Arena League (NAL), located in Orlando, FL.

Tuni Ropati, a Westfield native, is a 6'1, 291 lb defensive tackle out of Ball State University. He has also trained as an offensive lineman and a fullback. Upon his graduation in 2020, Tuni received attention from a couple different indoor teams and leagues after attending the HBCU Combine. Tuni originally signed with the Bismarck Bucks who then traded him to the West Texas Warbirds. He had a stellar season with the Warbirds in 2021. Ropati's size, agility and strength got the attention of the Panthers and were the deciding factors in his signing. Tuni will be a valued asset during his debut season with Bay Area.

"I am excited for this opportunity to keep playing football," said Ropati. "I hope to be able to help the Panthers bring home an IFL Championship to the Bay."

The Bay Area Panthers is a professional football team in the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Bay Area Panthers were originally set to debut their inaugural season, as the Oakland Panthers, in 2020, but due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic the season was cancelled. Unfortunately, they withdrew from the 2021 season because of COVID restrictions in California at the time. Since then, they have been rebranded as the Bay Area Panthers and moved to San Jose for the 2022 season. They will play their games in the SAP Center. They will be led this season by Head Coach, Kurt Bryan. Coach Bryan hopes to bring home an IFL Championship trophy to San Jose.

In 2021, the Indoor Football League had active teams in Spokane, Washington; San Jose and San Diego, California; Phoenix, Tucson and Prescott Valley, Arizona; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Frisco, Texas; Bismarck, North Dakota; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Des Moines, Iowa; Moline, Illinois; Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin; Worcester, Massachusetts and Louisville, Kentucky. The Pirates ousted the Rattlers in the United Bowl 37-34 to claim the IFL Championship title. For the 2022 season, the IFL has new expansion teams in Las Vegas, Nevada and Columbus, Ohio giving the IFL 16 active teams.

For more information about the Bay Area Panthers please visit https://www.bayareapanthers.com/. To learn more about Tuni Ropati you can follow his Instagram @tunemaccc.