Prep sports
La Pine wrestlers get win — With only two losses on the night, the La Pine wrestling team picked up a 54-21 road victory over Elmira on Wednesday night, the squads’ first contest of the season. The Hawks recorded six pins, including the first five weights (106-132) en route to the victory. La Pine will be on the road this weekend, taking part in the Adrian Irwin Tournament at Ridgeview High School in Redmond on Friday and Saturday.
Skiing
Bend’s Ross finishes 12th — In a World Cup downhill training event, Bend’s Laurenne Ross finished in 12th place during the International Ski Federation event in Val d’Isere, France, on Wednesday. Ross finished with a time of 1 minute, 50.76 seconds. Austrian Anna Fenninger won the event in 1:49.54, followed by American Julia Mancuso at 1:49.57. The second day of training takes place today, followed by the actual World Cup event on Friday and Saturday.
Football
New coach at Texas Tech — Texas Tech hired one of its own Wednesday, bringing back former Red Raiders quarterback Kliff Kingsbury to become the head coach. Kingsbury was offered the job in the afternoon and Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt announced the news with a video posted on Twitter not long after. “Wreck ’em Tech," Kingsbury said in the video, giving the school’s Guns Up sign when the camera panned to him. Kingsbury coached Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel this year and was the first in a string of record-setting quarterbacks for the Red Raiders under former coach Mike Leach.
Alabama QB to return — Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron, who has led the Crimson Tide to its second straight national title game, said he will return for his senior season instead of entering the NFL draft. McCarron made the announcement in a statement released by the school on Wednesday.McCarron leads the nation in passing efficiency headed into the BCS championship game against Notre Dame on Jan. 7 in Miami, and he was MVP of the BCS championship game against LSU last season. He is 24-2 as a starter.
Arkansas St. hires Harsin — Former Texas co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin hopes to bring some stability to Arkansas State as its new coach. Harsin was introduced as the new coach of the Red Wolves on Wednesday — one day after he agreed to leave the Longhorns and replace former Arkansas State coach Gus Malzahn. The former Boise State assistant coach becomes the third head coach in as many years for the two-time Sun Belt Conference champion Red Wolves. Malzahn left after one season to take over Auburn last week, while current Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze did the same two years ago.
Soccer
Timbers, Toronto trade — The Portland Timbers acquired former Oregon State forward Ryan Johnson and goalkeeper Milos Kocic from Toronto FC on Wednesday for goalkeeper Joe Bendik, the third pick in the 2013 SuperDraft and allocation money. The 28-year-old Johnson had seven goals in 31 regular-season games last season. He has 27 goals in six MLS seasons with Real Salt Lake, Chicago, San Jose and Toronto, and also has eight goals in 25 international appearances for Jamaica.
U.S. tops China — Abby Wambach scored twice Wednesday night in Houston to become only the second soccer player to reach 150 international goals, and the United States beat China 4-0 in an exhibition game Wednesday night. Carly Lloyd and Amy Rodriguez also scored to help the Americans extend their unbeaten streak to 22.
Tennis
Clijsters bids farewell — Former No. 1 Kim Clijsters ended her career with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Venus Williams in a ceremonial farewell match in Antwerp, Belgium. Clijsters retired after the U.S. Open but organized a match to thank her fans, 13,000 of whom turned up at Antwerp Sports Palace, including Crown Prince Phillipe and Princess Mathilde. In the lighthearted encounter, Clijsters was destined to win but still wowed the crowd with the play that made her famous before injuries added to her retirement at 29.
— From wire and staff reports
