By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribute sports reporter
To honor one of its most loyal fans, the Newport Central Catholic boys’ basketball team presented a framed jersey to Tina Pangallo before a home game against Newport on Jan. 6.
The woman known as “Mrs. P” has been attending NewCath basketball games for more than 35 years to cheer for six sons and four grandsons who have all played for the Thoroughbreds. Her late husband, Frank, was a 1955 graduate of NewCath and wanted all of his children to get a Catholic education.
Pangallo (Terry Boehmker Photo)
The framed jersey Mrs. P received has the number “12” printed on it. That number has been passed down to every member of the Pangallo family who has played basketball for NewCath over the years. Her grandson Zack Pangallo, a senior guard, is wearing that number this season. After he graduates, the number will be passed on to his cousin, Stephen, who is a freshman on this year’s team.
Mrs. P also has a granddaughter, Alexis, who is wearing the No. 12 jersey during her freshman season with the NewCath girls’ basketball team.
The family tradition started with her six sons who wore that number – Rocky, Jimmy, Frankie, Nicky, Steve and Chris. The first two grandsons to carry on the legacy were Grant Pangallo and Vince Bonhaus. Many of those former players now accompany Mrs. P to basketball games to watch Zack, Stephen and Alexis play for the Thoroughbreds.
And they’re not hard to spot, according to Zack. “There’s one section in the gym where you know they’re all sitting,” Zack said. “If you do something and look over there, you’re going to get something coming from them.”