Kosciusko senior Thomas Brunt is among “the best of the best, the cream of the crop” in Mississippi high schools, according to Mississippi High School Activities Association executive director Don Hinton.
Hinton made that statement at a luncheon in Jackson Monday honoring 16 seniors who are recipients of Lindy Callahan 
scholarships for 2018. The honorees — one boy and one girl from high schools in each of the MHSAA’s eight geographical districts — were chosen for their athletic and academic accomplishments and their participation in extracurricular activities and community service. The selections were made by a committee of MHSAA partners and school administrators from 256 students nominated by their schools
“We place great emphasis on academics,” Hinton said.
“It's a prestigious honor,” Brunt said of the scholarship. “I was honored to be nominated.”
Brunt will finish his high school career with a total of 16 letters in cross country, soccer, tennis, and track for Kosciusko. He has a 4.05 grade point average, is 10th in a class of 157 and is drum major for the school band. He plans to attend Mississippi State and study biomedical engineering.
The scholar-athletes receive $1500 scholarships for college.
Brunt's senior year included a major setback. In Kosciusko's first cross country race of the season last fall, he felt a sharp pain in his chest after crossing the finish line. “I didn't know what it was. They brought physicians over and they just thought my heart was acting up and they gave me some water to cool me down. It felt better afterward. I thought it was just a pulled muscle.”
But it was more serious than that. The chest started hurting again when he ran, requiring surgery in December.
“They had to take part of my lung out,” he said. The surgery kept him out of the soccer lineup for much of the season.
“That was awful,” he said. “I tried helping as much as I could. I would help my teammates out by filling the water.”
That dedication impressed Kosciusko boys soccer coach Greg Cooper, who nominated Brunt for the award.
“His determination to get back on the field showed me he would work to accomplish anything he puts his mind to. The time he invested in our season, even when injured, made me wish we had 10 more players like him,” said Cooper.
Brunt was accompanied to the luncheon by his parents, Ed and Lori Brunt, Cooper, Kosciusko High Principal Cory Blaylock and Superintendent Billy Ellzey.
Brunt complimented his parents for the many hours they spent taking him to games and watching him from the sidelines.
“They're just the best parents anyone could ask for,” he said.
Brunt said the thing that stands out in his years at Kosciusko was being a member of a team “and having friends you can rely on to get you through the day. Sports is what kept my grades up.”
Brunt is the second Kosciusko student to receive the scholarship this decade. Jessica Miles was honored in 2011.
Other Lindy Callahan scholar-athletes are Aaron Goldman of Amory, Macy Milane Moore of Corinth, Bryce Brock of Lewisburg, Savannah Grace Pipkin of Hickory Flat, Davin Kennedy of O'Bannon, Mary Margaret Weeks of Cleveland Central, Alexandra Bowen of Neshoba Central, Kimberton Mai of Laurel, Haven Howell of West Jones, Jeremiah Kaler of Northwest Rankin, Parker Grogan of St. Andrews, Bryson Brister of Loyd Star, Mallory Smith of North Pike, Noah Harris of Oak Grove and Kamryn Clymer of Picayune.
This is the 23rd year that the MHSAA awarded the scholarships named for Lindy Callahan, who played football at Meridian High School and Ole Miss before a 40-yard career as at a coach and athletic director at Gulfport High School. Callahan, who turned 90 on Christmas Day, attended the luncheon with his wife of 65 years.
