The Bruce-Mahoney is the oldest Catholic school rivalry west of the Mississippi. The men’s varsity sports teams of Saint Ignatius College Preparatory and Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, compete in three games – football, basketball, and baseball respectively. Teams give their all in pursuance of winning two out of the three games for the coveted Bruce-Mahoney Trophy. Saint Ignatius currently reins with a record of 47 winning years whereas Sacred Heart has conquered 26 years out of the total 73.

Today, students look at the Bruce-Mahoney as a pleasant time to engage in school spirit and lend appreciation to multiple hard working student athletes. Nevertheless, the Bruce-Mahoney has a deeper meaning than a few enjoyable and competitive games between two schools; it dates back to the mid 1900s to salute the ever brave Bill Bruce and Jerry Mahoney.  

Jerry Mahoney ‘44, a Sacred Heart Cathedral alumnus, was a skilled athlete and a competent student. As a young boy in the Richmond District, he attended Presidio Middle School and was welcomed into the Star of the Sea Parish. Mahoney entered into Sacred Heart Cathedral in 1941, automatically gaining a spot as a modest starting freshman number 7 on the Varsity Basketball team, and number 33 on Varsity Football later on in his student athlete career. During the rise of World War II, Mahoney entered the United States Navy.  On  February 9, 1945, his ship the USS Henry B. Plant, was hit and Mahoney passed away at the age of eighteen.  

Bill Bruce attended St. Vincent’s school near San Rafael, received an unknown scholarship to Saint Ignatius College Preparatory in 1931 and graduated from the high school in 1935. With humble beginnings, he grew up as an orphan and commuted from San Rafael to Saint Ignatius by ferry. His charisma and studious personality made him very affable. As a well-rounded student, he participated in various extra curricular activities while leading the Wildcats as the student body president. He wore this prestigious title with humble pride and was noted as an outstanding athlete in his role of starting lineman on the football team. After his high school career, he continued his love for sports in college by attending Santa Clara University and becoming the starter for the Broncos.  In 1940, Bruce enlisted in the U.S. Navy and soon became an outstanding fighter pilot.  He flew more than 50 combat missions in Europe and it wasn’t long before he was called to train young pilots at the Naval Air Station in Pasco, Washington. Unfortunately, Bill Bruce was killed on April 14,1943 alongside a new trainee.

During the 1940s, hardships of the war brought students together.  The Bruce-Mahoney united Sacred Heart Cathedrals’ and Saint Ignatius’ community through a series of games dedicated to two brilliant student athletes who exemplified valor in times of struggle and fought for their country when it needed them most.  Despite the ruin and destruction brought about through World War II, it did allow for the formation of the greatest tradition and unification between two schools based on the efforts of two extraordinary men.