Athletics
Athletic Facilities
An Ideal Setting for All Wildcats
Kimball Union Academy provides excellent athletic facilities for the entire KUA community. Nestled in the heart of the Upper Valley, our campus is the ideal training and recreation center for athletes of nearly any discipline and at all levels.
Campus Athletic Venues
Akerstrom Arena
Akerstrom Arena, part of the Whittemore Athletic Center, is a versatile facility designed to support a wide range of athletic and community events. The arena features a 200’ x 85’ NHL-size ice surface, available from September through March, maintained by an upgraded Zamboni and a state-of-the-art refrigeration system. Renovations and upgrades in 2024-2025 enhanced the Arena's functionality and atmosphere.
From September through March, Akerstrom Arena hosts hockey, figure skating, and speed skating. In the spring, the locker rooms, equipment room, and sports medicine center are used by our spring-sport athletes, and the rink floor is used for recreational roller hockey and as a back-up space for tennis and pickle ball on rainy days.
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A 200’ x 85’ NHL-Size Ice Surface
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Six athlete changing rooms
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Dedicated officials’ locker room and bathrooms
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Bench seating for 250 spectators
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Standing room for 100 spectators
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The Barn Field House
The Barn is one of the premier indoor playing surfaces in Northern New England. Field dimensions are 80 x 50 yards, surrounded by wall-to-wall protective netting. The facility is built with high-quality turf that allows student-athletes to train year-round and pursue their passion, even during the winter months. The Barn is home to Lightning Soccer Club, a premier youth soccer club serving over 60 towns in the Upper Valley.
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Pope Fields Complex
One of the best competitions and practice facilities in New England, Pope consists of a newly renovated turf field and three grass fields. Pope is home to the field hockey, cross country, soccer, and lacrosse programs. Boasting some of the best natural grass fields for soccer and lacrosse, the complex provides an excellent training and development area. The turf field recently underwent a total resurfacing and is lighted for night competition. The wide-open space hosts the start and finish area for the cross-country program and is adjacent to over 5 miles of groomed running and Nordic trails.
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Alumni Gym
The iconic Alumni Gym is home to the Kimball Union basketball teams and workout facility. The Silver Gym was the Academy’s first athletic building, with the basketball court coming several decades later. The facility brings feelings of nostalgia and is home to future Division I players and basketball enthusiasts alike. Alumni Gym was renovated in 2019.
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Fitness Center
Located in Alumni Gym, the Fitness Center serves the KUA community at large as well as strength and fitness afternoon activities and athletic teams' training needs. -
Tennis Courts
Six hard courts, located next to the Barn Field House, are available weather permitting. -
Cross Country & Mountain Bike Trails
An extensive network, including the campus “Potato Patch," offers maintained and groomed trails on approximately 50 acres suitable for biking, nordic skiing, running, and walking. The trails are used by KUA’s Mountain Biking and Cross-Country teams and connect directly to the main Pope Fields athletic complex.
Off-Campus Venues
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Golf
The KUA Golf Team and recreational golf program benefit from access to beautiful courses throughout the Upper Valley. -
Alpine Skiing and Freeskiing
Mount Sunapee and Okemo Mountain serve as the training facilities for alpine and freeskiing. Storrs Hill (a training facility for the young Mikaela Shiffrin) and Whaleback Mountain are just 15 minutes from campus for recreational ski days. -
Equestrian
KUA alumni and parents Sally Herbert ’83 and Tim Herbert ’84 host the Equestrian Team at their beautiful, state-of-the-art Ring Brook Farm, located just 10 minutes from Kimball Union.
