06/12/2026
From a One-Pound Miracle to the College World Series: Max Crews' Inspiring Journey
OMAHA, Neb. — As cameras roll and the excitement of the College World Series fills the air in Omaha this week, one young broadcaster has a story every bit as inspiring as the athletes he is covering.
Max Crews, a rising senior at Troy University majoring in Broadcast Journalism, is documenting the Troy Trojans' historic first-ever appearance in the College World Series. For Crews, the opportunity represents another remarkable milestone in a life that began with overwhelming odds stacked against him.
Born at just 28 weeks gestation, Max entered the world weighing only 1 pound, 15 ounces. His first days were filled with uncertainty as he spent six days on life support fighting for survival. Doctors and nurses at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital worked tirelessly to care for the tiny infant during his 91-day stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
For his family, every ounce gained and every small victory became a reason for hope. What began as a desperate fight for life gradually transformed into a story of resilience, determination, and faith.
Today, that once-fragile infant stands as a testament to perseverance.
A 2024 graduate of Geneva High School, Crews distinguished himself through academic achievement, leadership, and a passion for storytelling. His journey and positive outlook earned him the prestigious Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Scholarship, an award recognizing individuals whose lives exemplify courage, faith, and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Now entering his senior year at Troy University, Crews has turned his love for sports and media into a promising career path. As a broadcast journalism student, he has gained valuable experience behind the camera and in sports media production, opportunities that have prepared him for one of the biggest assignments of his young career.
This week, Crews is in Omaha capturing video content and telling the story of the Troy Trojans as they compete on college baseball's biggest stage. The assignment is especially meaningful because it coincides with a historic moment for the university—the program's first appearance in the College World Series.
While fans focus on the action on the field, those who know Max recognize that his presence in Omaha is a victory in itself.
His journey from a one-pound, fifteen-ounce premature infant to a college journalist covering a national sporting event serves as an inspiration to families facing difficult medical challenges and to anyone pursuing a dream despite obstacles.
For the Crews family, Omaha is more than just the site of a baseball tournament. It is another chapter in a story that began nearly two decades ago in a NICU room at UAB—a story that continues to prove that miracles can grow up to chase their dreams.
As Max documents history for the Troy Trojans this week, he is also living proof that some of life's greatest stories begin with the smallest beginnings.
