Tom Walter to be Recognized at College World Series
6/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 17, 2011
OMAHA, Neb. - Wake Forest head baseball coach Tom Walter and freshman outfielder Kevin Jordan will be honored by the NCAA at the 2011 College World Series on Saturday night.
During the fifth inning of Saturday's game between Florida and Texas, Walter will take the field and be recognized for donating a kidney to Jordan prior to the 2011 season. The contest is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and will be televised by ESPN. Jordan will not be in attendance for Saturday's ceremony.
In April of 2010, Jordan was diagnosed with ANCA Vasculitis - a type of autoimmune swelling caused by autoantibodies. The disease was affecting his kidney function and forced Jordan on daily dialysis treatments.
After a few potential donors were found to not be a good match, Walter was immediately tested. When all the tests were completed and it was known that Walter was a good match for Jordan, the Demon Deacon head coach agreed to the kidney donation without hesitation.
The surgery was performed successfully on February 7. Each man was released from the hospital on February 10 and Walter was in Baton Rouge, La. just over a week later to coach his team in the season opener at LSU on February 18.
Jordan returned to campus on March 18 for the Deacs' home series against Miami and threw out the ceremonial first pitch. He is expected to be back on campus for the second summer school session this year and will begin working with Wake Forest trainers to help build strength for the 2012 season.
Before attending the College World Series on Saturday, Coach Walter will join Rich Marazzi, Bill Pucci and Joe McCoy as a guest on their radio show, Inside Yankee Baseball. The show will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 1300 based out of New Haven, Conn.
