Razorbacks kicker not returning to team

FOOTBALL

Hedlund not returning

Kicker Cole Hedlund has not enrolled in classes this semester at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and is not expected to return to the team, a source with knowledge of the situation said Friday.

Hedlund, who would have been a senior, lost his job twice, to Adam McFain in 2016 and again this season when he was replaced by Connor Limpert after missing a pair of short field goals in a 28-7 loss to TCU in Week Two. Limpert went on to connect on 8 of 9 field goals, including a game-winning 34-yarder in the Hogs' 38-37 victory at Ole Miss.

Hedlund, from Argyle, Texas, is 91 of 91 on PATs and 14 of 26 on field goals during his career.

After redshirting in 2014, Hedlund held the place-kicking job throughout his freshman season, connecting on 9 of 15 field goals -- including a career long of 45 yards -- and 58 of 58 PATs.

He is the second known Razorback with remaining eligibility who is leaving the program. Center Zach Rogers said Thursday he was hanging up his cleats to pursue a career in professional law enforcement.

-- Tom Murphy

OUTDOORS

Open carry now OK in WMAs

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission announced a regulation change Thursday that will allow for the open carry of handguns in any wildlife management area or commission-controlled property or lake.

According to a news release, the previous rule allowed only individuals with valid concealed-carry permits to have handguns in those areas, unless there was a hunting season in which the weapon was legal.

The change means that having a handgun on property owned or controlled by AGFC is allowed as long as it is for personal protection and isn't being used for hunting, unless it's allowed for a current season.

-- Polly Irungu

BOWLING

ASU fourth at KU Invitational

The Arkansas State University women's team went 4-1 Friday to stand in fourth place after the first day of the Kutztown Invitational in Reading, Pa.

The Red Wolves finished the day with 5,208 total pins, finishing behind McKendree (5,394), Vanderbilt (5,358) and Fairleigh Dickinson (5,221). ASU started the day with victories over Morgan State and Chestnut Hill College, then lost to No. 13 Adelphi before bouncing back with victories over No. 16 Saint Francis University and No. 14 LIU Brooklyn.

SWIMMING AND DIVING

Arkansas leads after first day in Houston

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville swimming and diving team claimed six event titles Friday to lead Houston and Vanderbilt after the first day of the Houston tri-meet.

The Razorbacks won each of the last four events Friday to build a 107-79 lead over the Cougars and a 153-30 lead over the Commodores.

Thirteen Razorbacks combined to record 16 top-three finishes in 10 events. Seniors Chloe Hannam and Jessie Garrison, along with sophomore Ayumi Macias, had two top-three finishes each.

Freshman Peyton Palsha got Arkansas' first victory Friday in the 1,000-meter freestyle, finishing in 10 minutes, 4.75 seconds. Garrison won the 200 butterfly in 2:00.82 with teammate Marlena Pigliacampi finishing second in 2:02.72. Arkansas swept the podium in the 50 freestyle as Kiera Michailoff-Russell won in 23.90 seconds, while Annah Carney and Olivia Weekley tied for second in 24.08 seconds. Hannam won the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:03.60, with Garrison right behind to finish second in 2:04.53.

Freshman Brooke Schultz scored a school-record 384.53 on the 3-meter springboard, marking the fourth time this season she's broken the record in the event. Nicole Gillis finished third after scoring a 315.83.

TRACK AND FIELD

ASU wins 11 events

Arkansas State University earned individual titles in 7 of 12 events Friday and added 4 top times on the track for 11 event victories at the Samford January Invite in Birmingham, Ala.

The Red Wolves earned the top spots in the men's and women's long jump, as well as the men's and women's weight throw. Arabriaun Mack won the women's long jump with the sixth-best jump in program history at 19 feet, 3.25 inches. Itamar Levi posted a personal-best of 60 feet, 8.75 inches to win the shot put.

On the track, ASU won four events and took runner-up in five events. De'Airis Weakley won the 60-meter dash in 7.62 seconds, while Briana Hardiman won the 400 in 56.27 seconds with teammate LaCarol Baynes finishing fifth with a time of 58.81. Anaelle Charles won the women's 800 in 2:15.00, and teammate Andrea Perez finished second in 2:16.26. Heinrich Herbst won the men's 800 with a time of 1:54.39.

GYNMASTICS

Arkansas falls to Missouri

Three Razorbacks took four event titles as the 10th-ranked Razorback came up just short at No. 24 Missouri, falling 196.325-196.150 to the Tigers in Columbia, Mo.

Missouri sophomore Morgan Porter won the uneven parallel bars with a 9.9 and senior Kennedi Harris scored a 9.925 to take the vault title, putting the Tigers ahead after the first two events. Arkansas’ Jessica Yamzon, who scored a 9.9 to place first on beam, and Sarah Shaffer finished 1-2 all-around with scores of 39.250 and 39.225, respectively. Michaela Burton tied with Yazmon on beam, and Braie Speed scored a 9.9 to win the vault.

-- Democrat-Gazette Press Services

Sports on 01/20/2018

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