The Foxhole Court

Nora Sakavic

The Foxhole Court

Nora Sakavic
41 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Novel
YA
Published in 2013

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Neil is an 18-year-old runaway hiding from his violent father. He survives by using forged identities, changing his appearance, and keeping his distance from others. Despite his intense instinct to flee, his deep love for the violent sport of Exy drives him to accept a spot on the Palmetto State Foxes.

Key Relationships

Recruit of David Wymack

Teammate of Kevin Day

Protected by Andrew Minyard

Roommate of Matt Boyd

Son of The Butcher

Former Player of Hernandez

Patient of Abby Winfield

Patient of Betsy Dobson

Andrew operates as the volatile goalkeeper for the Foxes. He takes court-mandated psychiatric medication that leaves him manic, but he secretly stops taking his drugs for games and suffers severe withdrawal as a result. He establishes his own brutal code of loyalty, prioritizing the safety of his inner circle above everything else.

Key Relationships

Twin Brother of Aaron Minyard

Cousin of Nicky Hemmick

Fierce Protector of Kevin Day

Protective Teammate of Neil Josten

Peaceful Confidant of Renee Walker

Patient of Betsy Dobson

Kevin is a former national Exy champion who fled the Edgar Allan Ravens after a severe injury to his dominant hand. Raised by the criminal Moriyama family, he is deeply traumatized and terrified of his former team. He demands perfection from himself and his new teammates, channeling his fear into an obsessive dedication to the sport.

Key Relationships

Adoptive Brother of Riko Moriyama

Protected by Andrew Minyard

Demanding Mentor to Neil Josten

Assistant Coach to David Wymack

Former Ward of Tetsuji

Resentful Rival of Seth Gordon

Interviewee of Kathy Ferdinand

Wymack manages the Palmetto State Foxes as their head coach. He intentionally recruits athletes from abusive or broken homes, operating his team as a sanctuary for those discarded by society. He offers his players genuine second chances and establishes a protective environment where they can safely exist.

Key Relationships

Coach of Neil Josten

Colleague of Kevin Day

Colleague of Abby Winfield

Coach of Dan Wilds

Riko stars for the Edgar Allan Ravens, leveraging his family's criminal influence to terrorize Kevin. Known as the King of Exy, he uses his position within the Moriyama crime family to exert absolute control over those around him. He represents an inescapable, violent threat to Kevin and the rest of the Foxes.

Key Relationships

Adoptive Brother of Kevin Day

Relative of Tetsuji

Hostile Rival of Neil Josten

The Butcher runs a violent criminal enterprise in Baltimore. He is Neil's biological father, and his murderous business practices force his son into a life of permanent flight and assumed identities.

Key Relationships

Father of Neil Josten

Supporting Characters

Nicky plays for the Foxes and frequently acts as a social buffer for his cousins. He brings a flamboyant and relentlessly friendly energy to the team, acting as a welcoming presence for new recruits. Beneath his cheerful exterior, he experiences significant fear regarding Andrew's unpredictable behavior.

Key Relationships

Cousin of Andrew Minyard

Cousin of Aaron Minyard

Boyfriend of Erik

Teammate of Neil Josten

Aaron plays for the Foxes but actively distances himself from the sport and his twin brother. He maintains a clinical distance from the chaos of the team, using sarcasm and apathy to carve out a separate identity from his sibling.

Key Relationships

Twin Brother of Andrew Minyard

Cousin of Nicky Hemmick

Dan captains the Foxes, working to manage the fractured social dynamics in the locker room. She provides a stabilizing presence among her volatile teammates and serves as Wymack's primary authority on the court. She is highly protective of newcomers and strives to unite the divided factions.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Matt Boyd

Captain under David Wymack

Close Friend of Renee Walker

Protective Captain to Neil Josten

Teammate of Allison Reynolds

Matt defends his teammates on the court and provides emotional support in the dorms. He quickly establishes himself as a trustworthy ally to Neil, offering him help against the more aggressive members of the team. He frequently steps in to break up fights and protect his friends.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Dan Wilds

Roommate of Neil Josten

Roommate of Seth Gordon

Renee brings a quiet, religious presence to the aggressive team environment. She stands out due to her gentle demeanor and overt religious faith. Uniquely, she is the only person who maintains a peaceful understanding with Andrew, allowing her to mediate conflicts safely.

Key Relationships

Peaceful Confidant of Andrew Minyard

Close Friend of Dan Wilds

Allison rejected her family's fortune to play Exy, relying on her sharp attitude to keep others at a distance. She frequently clashes with her teammates and uses her wealth as armor against criticism. She maintains a highly volatile relationship with Seth Gordon.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Seth Gordon

Teammate of Dan Wilds

Seth plays striker for the Foxes, frequently instigating fights due to his substance use and insecurity. He holds a deep resentment toward Kevin Day's fame and regularly creates tension within the locker room through his aggressive behavior.

Key Relationships

Romantic Partner of Allison Reynolds

Resentful Rival of Kevin Day

Roommate of Matt Boyd

Abby treats the players' physical injuries while maintaining strict confidentiality about their personal scars. She conducts mandatory physicals and is fully aware of the trauma her athletes carry, acting as a maternal figure who respects their boundaries.

Key Relationships

Colleague of David Wymack

Nurse to Neil Josten

Dr. Dobson conducts mandatory psychiatric evaluations for the university athletes. She attempts to establish an institutionalized understanding of the players, monitoring both new recruits like Neil and mandated patients like Andrew.

Key Relationships

Therapist to Neil Josten

Therapist to Andrew Minyard

Kathy hosts a collegiate sports broadcast covering Exy. She prioritizes dramatic ratings over the well-being of her guests, deliberately ambushing Kevin Day by bringing Riko onto her stage without warning.

Key Relationships

Interviewer of Kevin Day

Hernandez coaches high school Exy in Millport, Arizona. He recognizes Neil's athletic talent and actively seeks out Wymack to secure his player a chance at a college career.

Key Relationships

Former Coach of Neil Josten

Erik maintains a long-distance relationship with Nicky from Germany. He provides Nicky with an emotional anchor to a life outside the dangerous and insular world of the Foxes.

Key Relationships

Boyfriend of Nicky Hemmick

Tetsuji enforces strict training regimens for the Edgar Allan Ravens. As a member of the Moriyama family and the guardian of Kevin Day, he sets cruel standards and views the athletes under his care as personal property.

Key Relationships

Former Guardian of Kevin Day

Relative of Riko Moriyama