Photos: TAC Men Battle in “Mattress Pull”

In an odd but seemingly well-loved ritual, the men of St. Junipero Serra Residence Hall squared off against the men of St. Katherine’s on Sunday for a mud-soaked “mattress pull.” The competition, photos of which are available in the slideshow below, consisted of dragging a mattress across the athletic field, while the opposing team — naturally — sought to pull the mattress in the opposite direction.

As a prize for their valiant efforts, the winners of this brutal struggle claimed St. Serra Hall’s legendary “goat stag.” As one student onlooker explains, “Serra’s, although already possessing the goat stag, cockily challenged Kate’s. Kate’s won the game and stripped Serra’s of their glory.”

Says College Chaplain Rev. Cornelius M. Buckley, S.J., who was on hand to witness the spectacle, “It certainly was a great way to build up spirit.” A fellow resident of St. Katherine’s Hall, he then added, “I’m just delighted that the Katie Boys won!”