HAWKS HIGHLIGHT: Fullerton's baseball journey from overseas to Steamboat Springs

NORFOLK, Neb. -- Northeast Community College sophomore Maxim Fullerton might look like a prototypical baseball player when he emerges from the dugout, but the path he took to Norfolk is anything but typical.

"I grew up overseas," Fullerton said of his unusual upbringing. "I was born in Amman, Jordan. Then grew up around Southeast Asia. We bounced around Cambodia, Indonesia, and then went to Kazakhstan for a couple of years, back to Jordan, then we went to the US, and now I'm here." 

Fullerton cities all those different life experiences as part of the reasons he finds success on the diamond. 

"I think growing up without any resources to sports, I don't want to say put a chip on my shoulder, but I definitely understand that I am starting off from a lot later," Fullerton said. "I didn't have the time in baseball. It's helped me with my work ethic." 

"I remember in Jordan when I was trying to take sports seriously I would wake up at six in the morning to be at the gym before school trying to be as big and strong as I could, knowing that I'd have to come back to the states and compete with kids that have been playing competitive sports their whole life," Fullerton said. 

Northeast head baseball coach Marcus Clapp recalls having Fullerton out to campus on a visit, and the impression Fullerton's dad Brent Fullerton made. 

"We brought Maxim out on a visit with his father," Clapp said recalling the recruiting process of Fullerton. "Talking to his dad, I could talk to him all day. He can tell stories. You go from teaching in the Middle East to living in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It's just a little different atmosphere and profession." 

Having taught overseas to the children of oil company workers, and then moving his entire family to Colorado, Brent Fullerton has amassed plenty of stories to tell. 

"We finally made the decision to move to the US the beginning of my sophomore year," said the younger Fullerton. "(Brent) decided he wanted to become a small business owner, and somehow he found the Birk business. He saved up, bought it from a guy, and now he's the Birk doc." 

What exactly is, "The Birk business?" Well, the elder Fullerton is the owner of iBirks.com, which is one of only a few authorized repair centers of the popular shoe brand Birkenstocks. How would Maxim describe his globe-trotting father who is now the self-proclaimed #birkenstockdoc? 

"He's definitely my hero," Fullerton said. "He's like an international man of mystery. He's like a spy but not a spy." 

Not only has the elder Fullerton worked in the teaching and shoe repair fields, but he also has had a huge influence on Maxim's baseball career. 

"He's kind of what got me in to baseball," Fullerton said. "He played baseball growing up in Arizona. We've always had balls and gloves, even when we were overseas. He used to be a teacher, and now he's a Birkenstock repair man. He's taught me everything I know about baseball and about life." 

How many pairs of Birkenstocks are laying around the Fullerton household? 

"I have two," he said. "Both custom Birks. One's hand-crafted by myself. I probably have the least amount because I'm not home anymore, but my dad has to have like five." 

When Fullerton trades his Birkenstocks for baseball cleats, he has sky-high expectations for himself, and hopes to showcase his talents again during the upcoming 2022 season. 

"I'm expecting to make a pretty big jump this spring," Fullerton said. "My fall was a whole lot better than it was last year. Last year was my first year playing competitive baseball my entire life. This year I'm a lot better acclimated to college baseball and how competitive it is." 

Fullerton isn't the only one expecting a productive season, as his head coach is looking forward to seeing Fullerton back in competitive action. 

"We're expecting his bat to be in the lineup, whether that's in the outfield, whether that's DH, whether that's maybe even playing a little first-base," Marcus Clapp said. "He's a left-handed bat. He's got some power. He's got some really good things. I don't know if there's a certain role right now that we see him in as much as I see him as more of a utility, and where exactly is going to be the best fit for him to help the team win." 

When told of what Clapp claimed as the ideal scenario for Fullerton, the Steamboat Springs, Colo. native was pleased with what he heard.  

"I'm happy he thinks that," Fullerton said with a smile. "I kind of think of myself as an oversized contact hitter. I'm six-three, 200 pounds, and I put the ball in play. I think that's really key for college ball. Defenses are so good. You can't rely on big flies. You have to put the ball in play a lot, and hope that you put good swings on the ball to get on base for your team to move you over." 

Despite bouncing around much of his life in many different lavish countries, Fullerton is content with his current living situation. 

"Norfolk holds a special place in my heart," Fullerton said. "It always will. You can tell that the town is pretty invested in what's going on at the college. I like being in a town where there's baseball.

The Northeast baseball team begins play during the 2022 season at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 5 on the road against the Northern Oklahoma College - Enid Jets at David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Okla. 

Fans are encouraged to follow the Northeast Athletic social media channels for all the latest news and athletic information. 

Twitter: @NortheastHawks 

Facebook: @northeastcchawks 

Instagram: @northeasthawks