Red Hornet girls excited for year two for program

Heading into year two of the Heartland Lutheran girls golf program, the team's slogan might as well be: Have bus, will travel.

The reason? The Red Hornets' 2008 schedule consists of only four events prior to the district meet in early October and Heartland Lutheran coach Dan Bremer is eager to beef up the slate. Although he acknowledges that it's getting pretty late in the game to be adding to this fall's schedule, Bremer said his squad is willing to travel to almost any dual, triangular, quadrangular or tournament that has an opening.

"I'd like to play a bunch more meets and duals, but it's a question of getting so late in the year that it's difficult to get into some of those events," Bremer said. "I'm hoping that some other schools will let us in."

Don't think Bremer is serious? Consider that Heartland Lutheran will open its season Thursday playing in the Ainsworth Invitational -- a 3 1/2-hour, 180-mile road trip.

"That's a long one, but I want the team to get some matches in," Bremer said. "We're willing to go wherever it takes to play."

While Heartland Lutheran's light schedule obviously lends itself to plenty of practice time, Bremer said that his team also needs live competition to improve.

"We'll play enough as it is to get a taste for it, but competitive golf is nothing like practice," Bremer said. "I'm a coach who wants to see where the girls' practice takes them."

Heartland Lutheran returns three players with starting experience in senior Caitlin Peters, junior Rebecca Spiehs and sophomore Gretyl Bremer. The Red Hornets also added first-year players in junior Aurelia Wohlfart and sophomores Amanda Raber and Ida Petersen.

"Obviously, there is a little more experience, so they know what to expect as far as matches and things of that nature," Dan Bremer said. "We're still a fairly young team with not a lot of experience playing competitive golf."

With that in mind, Bremer said the Red Hornets will count heavily on their trio of returning players.

"I've seen some good things in practice with Rebecca, Caitlin and Gretyl," Bremer said. "With most of the rest of our players being fairly new to the game, those three girls are obviously going to have to carry the team."

Bremer said he expects Spiehs to take on the role as Heartland Lutheran's No. 1 player.

"She truly has the desire to get past districts and get into state," Bremer said. "I hope she accomplishes that.”