BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Keystone Heights High School senior Luke Brunt isn’t going to let anything interfere with a soccer practice or game, so it makes sense that he’d want to play the sport at the collegiate level.
He’s given himself the opportunity to do so after signing a letter of intent to play at Jacksonville’s Trinity Baptist College during a Dec. 11 ceremony in the KHHS media center.
“I’m just excited and ecstatic,” Brunt said.
So, too, is his high-school coach, Trevor Waters. Waters said coaches always have players who miss practices here and there for one reason or another, but that’s never been the case with Brunt.
“He doesn’t miss a practice,” Waters said, adding, “He schedules around that.”
Brunt said his passion for soccer has grown since he began playing it at the age of 3.
“I’ve always enjoyed the sport,” he said. “I’ve watched it. I’ve played games. It’s my life.”
A three-year varsity starter, Brunt recorded a team-high 20 assists for Keystone during his junior season. He was also third in goals with 17.
This season (prior to Dec. 16), Brunt is leading the team with 10 assists and second in goals with eight.
Waters said senior Aaron Wiley may get more recognition because of his goals (37 last year and 21 so far this season), but a lot of those goals happened because of Brunt.
“Luke’s getting the assist, or Luke’s getting what we call in hockey the assist before the assist,” Waters said.
The Keystone coach said Brunt’s vision is what makes him a standout center midfielder.
“He knows where to go with the ball,” Waters said.
Trinity Baptist Head Coach Asithorn Romyanond attended the signing ceremony and thanked Brunt’s parents, Nathan and Toni, for their support of their son.
“I have five children myself. It’s very tough,” Romyanond said of making the sacrifices to support your children’s activities.
Romyanond expressed his thanks to Waters for his time and dedication and thanked all those in attendance for helping to make what will be a special memory for Brunt.
“Ten years from now, you’re going to look back at this moment,” Romyanond told Brunt. “It’s priceless.”
What also made the moment special is that a Keystone soccer player getting the chance to play collegiately has been a rare occurrence. Waters said he can remember only four players who’ve done so.
“This doesn’t happen very often,” Waters said.
Waters said Keystone could’ve had more soccer players receive college opportunities, but noted it takes a commitment to put oneself in that position.
“If you’re unwilling to work hard, you’re not going to make it in collegiate soccer or collegiate sports,” Waters sad.
Brunt’s father, Nathan, who’s also an assistant coach to Waters, echoed the sentiment, saying it takes hard work on the field and in the classroom. Then, looking at the other soccer players in attendance, said, “Every single one of you boys over there could be going somewhere, but you’ve got to put in the work.”
Brunt has shown he’s willing to do so, while acknowledging that he’ll find the going tougher after high school.
“I think it’s going to be more difficult, for sure,” he said. “It’s going to be harder.”
The Trinity Baptist signee said he’s looking forward to the challenge, which will include finding himself in unfamiliar surroundings. Still, once he steps onto the field, it’ll feel familiar to him because he’ll be playing the sport that has become his life.
“It’s definitely going to be new,” Brunt said. “New people, new environment, but it’s still going to feel like home.”
