MOUNT GREENWOOD — The rivalry between St. Rita High School and Leo High School continues at 7 p.m. Friday at Saint Xavier University in Mount Greenwood.
Leo will host the varsity basketball game at the university's Shannon Center at 3700 W. 103rd St. Admission is $5.
St. Rita High School in Ashburn and Leo High School in Auburn Gresham have been Catholic League rivals since Leo was founded in 1926, according to Mike Swanson, communications and alumni relations director at St. Rita.
Swanson, who's father Roy was a 1953 graduate of Leo, added that St. Rita was established in 1905. The school moved to 7740 S. Western Ave. in 1990. St. Rita and Leo are separated by just two miles since St. Rita moved from its previous home in Chicago Lawn.
And while the game Friday night will be played on the court, the schools' greatest rivalry games have historically happened on the football field. More than 30,000 fans filled Soldier Field to watch the Mustangs and the Lions on Nov. 6, 1949, according to a story from the Chicago Tribune's archives.
The game commonly called the "Mercy Bowl" raised money for the Sisters of Mercy. This holy order founded Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School in Mount Greenwood and the adjacent Saint Xavier.
The charity football game in 1949 saw the proceeds directed toward the creation of Mercy Hospital, according to the Tribune article. The game was televised on WGN, and Jack Brickhouse did the announcing.
A pre- and post-game party for Friday's game will be held at The Red Palm Bar & Grill in nearby Evergreen Park. Restaurant owner Mike Nix is 1980 graduate of Leo and school Hall of Famer.
He's inviting alumni and fans of both teams to visit the Red Palm at 3020 W. 95th St. Indeed, Nix's sons Ryan and Sean attended St. Rita. A shuttle bus from the restaurant will leave at 6:15 p.m. for fans attending the game.
"We expect to see a number of Leo and St. Rita alums and fans after the game. Nowadays, a kid can’t go wrong with his Catholic school choices,” Nix said.
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