Until the founding of the MCC in 1991, the "Big Five" all-male high schools in the St. Louis area had never been in one conference at the same time, despite all having enjoyed long athletic traditions.
It is not uncommon for even the league's two smallest schools, Chaminade and Vianney, to field four teams, such is the popularity of soccer among their students.
In addition, ice hockey has become another popular sport among the schools, spearheaded by CBC's record winning streak from 2002 to 2006, where they won more than 130 consecutive games.
Sports offered by all MCC schools include: (fall) football, soccer, cross-country, swimming; (winter) hockey, basketball, wrestling, racquetball; (spring) golf, tennis, track and field, lacrosse, water polo, volleyball, rugby union, and baseball.
Similarly, SLUH maintained a rivalry with its fellow Jesuit institution, De Smet.