The Academy Bids Farewell To the Cage

Students, faculty and alumni gathered together to pay their final regards to the Thompson Cage on Saturday. The Cage, which was erected in 1929, has helped thousands of Exonians practice and perform in athletic events. However, in past years, the building has exhibited structural unsoundness, leaking and general dilapidation, prompting a move for renovation. Many alumni protested its potential demolition and tried to preserve it as a historic relic; almost all reflected on their memories in the Cage, recalling E/a weekends, track practices and team bonding.

By now, many students believe the Cage has truly fallen into disrepair and can no longer meet the needs of high-level athletes trying to train for sports such as track and wrestling. In light of its problems, the Trustees approved the removal of the Cage last year. In its footprint, the school will erect a new field house, which will include a 200-meter track, four indoor tennis courts, a multipurpose infield, two batting cages and a dedicated wrestling room.

“Those dust-filled workouts every winter will forever shape my relationship to the track team and to Exeter as a whole, and I will be sad to see it go.”

Though the demolition of the Cage will begin this summer, the Academy will do all it can to preserve the Cage’s history. To help incorporate pieces of the Cage into the new field house and to keep the history of the Cage alive, as well as creating a commemorative book, faculty, staff and alumni have formed a Thompson Cage Documentation/Preservation Committee.

Exeter also hired Building Conservation Associates, a team of historic preservation consultants, who will document the Cage’s history, purpose and development over the years.

On Saturday, the Exeter community, including many alumni, gathered to pay their respects to the Cage. Commemorative bottles of dirt were distributed and the Cage was decorated with photographs and quotes cataloguing the stories of students for whom the Cage impacted.

For some students at Exeter, the removal of the Cage is a necessary act that will serve to advance the school’s athletic potential. According to Exeter students, particularly those on the track team, the Cage often had broken windows and a soaked floor, and the dust and dirt in the air was detrimental to the lungs. In addition, members of the track team explained that running on dirt increases the possibility of injury and creates objectionable dust clouds in the air.

Due to this, lower Cedric Blaise, who runs track, expressed satisfaction at the impending removal of the Cage. “I feel pretty happy that the Cage is being torn down because it was pretty old and hard to work with,” he said. “I’m excited that we’re gonna replace the Cage with a new facility soon where we can finally have home track meets in the winter.” Lower Dolapo Adedokun, also on the track team, said. “Despite the fun times and practices we had in there, I think it is a good time for a replacement.”

Varsity track member and upper Sydney McKiernan reported that one of her friends broke her arm running on the dirt, and another contracted a lung infection from the poor quality of air.

Senior Vincent Vaughns, co-captain of varsity track, explained that he felt at a disadvantage to other schools with superior track facilities and that the replacement of the Cage with a new facility will help athletes at Exeter excel. “I believe that the building of the new Cage is a testament to PEA’s commitment to providing students with the resources they need to be successful,” he said. “Although the Thompson Cage provides some with nostalgia, it is an eyesore and does not allow students to reach their full potential.”

McKiernan agreed, describing the unfavorable conditions in the Cage. “[The Cage] definitely hindered our ability to train effectively,” she said. “When we would run the room would fill with so much dust that we would all get dirt lines on our teeth, and it would get slightly difficult to breathe.”

Upper Tayo Zenger, who also runs track, recalled the challenges the team faced in the Cage. “Whenever it rained, we would have to hold practice in the wrestling room or old basketball courts, because it was too dangerous to run in the Cage,” he said. “There was a period where we never actually ran in the Cage, since the weather was pretty bad, and a lot of water was leaking into the Cage grounds.”

For the majority of current athletes at Exeter, the demolition of the Cage is bittersweet. For many Exonians, the difficulties teams faced together in the Cage fostered camaraderie and encourage bonding.

“There were some happy memories in the Cage like the fact that we would all bond over how terrible it was, and it was in that dusty room that I learned to love track and made some of my best friends,” McKiernan said.

McKiernan said that although training in the Cage was challenging, it brought the team closer together because they shared their own sacred space. “I’m happy that we’re getting a new indoor track, but I’m sad that we’re losing a physical representation of all that history,” she said.

Former track captain Warren Charleston ’15 reminisced on the Cage’s role in uniting his team. “I suffered through some harsh workouts in that Cage, but what got me through it was the support of my team,” he said. “That Cage challenged us to work together and believe in each other. It made me realize how much I loved my team.”

Last year’s cross country captain, Will Li ’15, echoed Charleston’s sentiment. “I think everyone is feeling a mixture of excitement and nostalgia,” he said. He went on to say that the track and field facility are “vastly inadequate” and dangerous, recalling one athlete who broke his/her collarbone from tripping. Li expressed his excitement for the new renovation, which will hopefully allow the team to thrive in a space that allows athletes to have the best experience possible.

Alumni of the school will remember the historical relic with fondness, as a space in which they grew as athletes and became united with their teams.

Li concluded, “While we often laughed and complained about the Cage, those dust-filled workouts every winter will forever shape my relationship to the track team and to Exeter as a whole, and I will be sad to see it go.”