Title: Player

Wheeler family

Samson "Sammy" Wheeler is the main protagonist of Player. He is the star quarterback of the Ridgeline High Riverhawks. Very good-looking, popular and beloved at school. Devil-may-care attitude. A free-spirit, independent soul who feels he is missing out on life due to his Mormon upbringing. What keeps him anchored is his desire to escape Utah, which he considers a suffocating and uptight. Wants to play for a party school. Samson is not a deadbeat. He is a top athlete, an honor roll student, and works part time to finance what his parents will not. He works hard and plays hard, too.

Patrick "Grease" Wheeler (Father)

Patrick Wheeler, also known by his nickname "Grease" or shorthand "Pat", is a major character in Player. He is the stern and pious patriarch of the Wheeler family. As implied by his nickname, which is often used by his colleagues, Pat is a mechanic who owns his own auto repair shop in town. Patrick was orphaned at 13 years old, and has been working ever since, as he, too, had younger siblings to take care of. As the church helped he and his family during their time of need, he does not take faith lightly - he views it as an essential path to righteousness and stability and he wants his children to follow in his footsteps. He is a strict and traditional man, who is disappointed in Sam's reckless behavior and lack of respect for their Mormon faith. However, he loves his son deeply and wants the best for him, even if he struggles to understand Sam's desires and dreams. Patrick is physically the strongest member of the family, with decades of experience in manual labor and fixing cars, but he also has a gentle and caring side that he shows to his family and close friends.

Ora Wheeler (née Kinsella) is a supporting character in Player. She is the matriarch of the Wheeler family. represents the nurturing heart of the family, quietly supporting her husband and children. Her motherly persona allows her to be a stabilizing force, often acting as a mediator during conflicts. While she might not have the same strong convictions as Patrick, her unconditional love and warmth create a sense of belonging for each family member.

Lance Wheeler is a major character in Player. He is the oldest child of Patrick and Ora Wheeler. Samson is far from the first of the family to have achieved success in the athletic world. Lance was a star tight end for Ridgeline High before spinal stenosis cut his playing career short. Lance continues to be a God-fearing man and devout Mormon, despite his setbacks. He does not like the term Mormon because it excludes Jesus' name; he insists on using its full name. He is resilient and unflappable. Doesn't swear or use inappropriate language, like his parents. Married to Halynn, who is a third cousin of the Wheeler siblings. They are in a happy and stable marriage, although Samson is not really keen on the idea of marrying someone so closely related. Jinya adores Lance and Halynn. She is very supportive of them; she looks up to Lance as possessing the ideal qualities of a Mormon, a Utahn, and a member of the Wheeler family, and is also a devout Mormon. Since his injury, Lance has made the decision to pivot towards a role in national security. He and Halynn currently live in Texas, where Lance is pursuing a degree in intelligence.

Virginia Wheeler, also known as "Jinya", is one of the main protagonists of Player. At 15, she is the third child and eldest daughter of Patrick and Ora Wheeler. Polite, soft-spoken, and demure, Jinya embodies purity and elegance, everything she was raised to be. An ingénue, she would likely be a princess in another story. Jinya is trusting to a fault. Hates contact sports, finds football barbaric, and is worried Samson will get hurt. She hasn't forgotten about Lance's injury. Almost always seen carrying a fantasy novel or or religious scripture.

Texas Wheeler is a major character in Player. At 13, She is the fourth child of Patrick and Ora Wheeler. Texas' passion, her name notwithstanding, is figure-skating. She's a big fan of Viktoria Levedeva, who will also play a central role in this story. Texas admires Samson for his independence, athletic ability, and social success.

Remington "Remy" Wheeler is a supporting character in Player. He is the fifth child and third son of Patrick and Ora Wheeler. The 11-year-old Remy is a wild child, and according to Ora he has been loud and mischievous since infancy. He is almost always seen with a toy gun and a cowboy hat. He wants to be a sheriff or a marine when he grows up. Remy looks up to Samson and often tries to emulate his older brother's cool and rebellious demeanor, much to the amusement of the rest of the family.

Halynn Wheeler is a minor character in Player. Halynn is a kind and gentle soul who is deeply devoted to her family and her faith. She is a supportive wife to Lance and a loving mother to their children. Halynn is a talented baker and often brings treats to family gatherings and church events. She is also a skilled seamstress, known for making beautiful quilts and clothing for her family and friends.

Gideon Wheeler is a supporting character in Player. At 8 years old, Gideon is the artist of the family.

Lucky is the family's border collie.

The Wheeler family resides in Logan, Utah, a small and picturesque town nestled in the Cache Valley region. Known for its stunning mountain views and outdoor recreational opportunities, Logan is a tight-knit community with a strong sense of tradition and family values. The Wheelers have lived in Logan for generations, and their roots run deep in the town's history. Despite Samson's desire to escape Utah, Logan will always be home to the Wheeler family.

Viktoria Lebedeva is one of the main characters in Player. As her name suggest, she is obviously not native to Utah and has only ever been to the US to compete for figure skating championships. She enters the picture near the end of Act 3, as a member of the Russian Olympic Committee in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Although it is Texas that begs for a trip downstate to see Lebedeva perform, it is actually Samson that strikes a connection with the consummate gold medalist. Viktoria was born the only child of an ambitious couple, Anatoliy and Daria Lebedev/a in Murmansk, Russia. Murmansk had always been good enough for Vika, but not for her parents who wanted to rub elbows with the Moscow elite. Viktoria really never fit in with a cosmopolitan setting, but the ice rinks always made her feel as if she were back home in the Arctic. By her mother who had skated before injuries cut her career short and her father who wanted to elevate his family to high society, Viktoria had been groomed to represent Russia faithfully, and for her that meant taking figure skating to newer and more exciting heights. It also meant cutting all non-essential bloat from her life, from recreational activities to relationships.

The opening act introduces us to the family, and to Samson's life. What does he do? How does he experience the world? He has a loyal group of friends including fellow athletes like Dylan Palmer and Anthony Hunter. While his parents consider him irresponsible, he really isn't. He works part time as a delivery driver when he isn't studying, hanging out with friends, or practicing. He typically arrives home at 9PM or later. But enough about that. Virginia Wheeler is one of the main protagonists of the story, and yet I haven't defined her role. She becomes an object of desire for Titus Hatch, the son of Orus Hatch, the wealthy president of the Salt Lake Temple. Again, Virginia is a devout Mormon, so she is quickly taken by Titus's suave charm and high status within the Mormon community. Temples are very important in the Mormon faith, and being the son of the temple president makes Titus a highly desirable match for Virginia, although Samson is the first to sense that his interest in Jinya might not be pure.