Members of the Racine Raiders coaching staff and players took the Reading With the Raiders program to the Julian Thomas Elementary School in Racine on Tuesday, April 24.

Around fifty students, along with parents and guardians, participated in the event. According to Angie Sadowski, the Title I reading teacher at Julian Thomas, the evening was to get interested in reading, not just as a life skill, but as a fun activity.

It was an evening of pizza, Raiders and reading at Mitchell School in Racine on Thursday, April 19, with the kickoff of the Reading with the Raiders program. Raiders players Chris Walsh, Tracy Baskin and Luis Rico along with R.J. Raider, coach Matt Nelson and head coach Gino Perfetto joined up with Paula May, Miss Racine, and Sha-Nita Rhea, Miss Black Wisconsin, to read books to approximately 50 Mitchell elementary students and their parents.

The Racine Raiders first tryout of the 2012 campaign is now history and it's being called a great success. Nearly three dozen returning players and new hopefuls attended the tryout Saturday morning at Carthage College. They were tested in everything from speed and agility to jumping ability to strength.

New Raiders assistant coach and former player Anthony Wooden was impressed by the number and quality of the linemen that came to the tryout.

"Our linemen seem to come out strong, fast and with a little bit of agility, which is what we're looking for," said Wooden. "We had a good turnout from the big men and it looks like we're going to have good lines."

The Racine Raiders will host the team's first tryout for the 2012 season this Saturday, March 31, 2012, at the Tarble Arena on the Carthage College campus in Kenosha, Wis. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. and the tryouts will run from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The tryout is free.

All participants must be at least 18 years of age to tryout. Pre-registration is encouraged through the team's recruitment website, http://www.playfortheraiders.com. Participants should wear gym shoes and comfortable athletic clothing.

The Racine Raiders have learned that former Racine Raiders linebacker Jamie Isome has been hospitalized in Ohio. Isome was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2008 and the cancer has recently become more aggressive. Isome played for the Raiders in 2006 and 2007.

In 2006, Isome was named Rookie of the Year. The following season he was named Defensive Most Valuable Player. Isome used his experience with the Raiders to move up to professional indoor football where he played with the Milwaukee Bonecrushers in 2008.

In April of that year, Isome hit his head hard on the turf during a road game in Marion, Ohio. When he returned home, he began suffering from headaches and had a sensitivity to light so he went to see a doctor, figuring he had a concussion.

Main Street in Racine had a showing of the green for its annual St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 17th. But there was also a showing of the cardinal and silver as approximately 45 Raider players, the Raiders Dance Team, coaches and volunteers marched in the parade.

There was also a showing of the gold as leading the way for the Raiders was the 1st place trophy won in last fall’s Mid-States Football Tournament.

Three weeks after the resignation of Jordan Kopac, the Racine Raiders formally announced the hiring of Gino Perfetto as the team’s new head coach. Perfetto, who previously served as an assistant coach and on the Board of Directors, will be replacing Kopac, who left the team after a combined five year tenure as head coach.

“I am excited to be working with Gino. He seems to be a coach that knows what needs to be done, and he knows what type of players we need to recruit and the type of player that will fit in with the team,” said Raiders general manager Bob Marcado.

Jordan Kopac resigned as head coach of the Racine Raiders on Friday. In a letter delivered to team officials and the Racine Journal Times, Kopac said he was declining an offer to coach his sixth season in Racine.

In his letter, Kopac cited the decision by the team's board of directors to move from the Elite Mid-Continental Football League to the Mid-States Football League (MSFL).

Raiders general manager Bob Marcado told the Racine Journal Times that the Raiders carefully chose to apply to the MSFL.

"If you look at the power rankings in our area, the Mid-States Football League had more top teams in the nation than any other league in this area," said Marcado.

The Racine Raiders Dance & Stunt Team is looking for experienced dancers and cheerleaders. Prospects must have a variety of dance skills, jump technique, stunting ability (liberty or better) and tumbling is preferred but not a requirement. All participants must be at least 18 years of age and be willing to commit from March through October of this year.

The tryout will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2012, at the Racine YMCA (725 Lake Avenue). Registration will begin promptly at noon for the cheer tryouts and the cheer tryouts will run from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dancer registration will begin at 1:30 p.m. and the tryouts will run from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Please come in athletic clothing ready to work and perform any variety of dance and/or cheerleading skills. Please email Dani at Danielle627@hotmail.com for more details.

The Racine Raiders held their annual winter awards banquet on Saturday, January, 21, at Infusino's Banquet Hall in Racine. The big announcement of the evening was that the Raiders are returning to the Mid-States Football League.

Not only does this mean a possible rematch with the Lake Geneva Generals, who the Raiders defeated in the Midwest Football Tournament last fall, but a possible game with their crosstown rivals, the Racine Threat. Locations and dates are dependent on the upcoming 2012 season schedule currently being set by the league office.

The Racine Raiders announced two tryout dates for the 2012 season today. The team will hold tryouts on Saturday, March 31, 2012, and Sunday, April 22, 2012. Both tryouts will be held at the Tarble Arena on the Carthage College campus in Kenosha, Wis. (Directions)

The tryout will begin with check-in at 8:00 a.m. The tryouts will run from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Both tryouts are FREE. Pre-registration is required via the Raiders recruitment website at http://www.playfortheraiders.com.

Please wear gym shows and comfortable athletic clothing for the tryouts.

The Racine Raiders advanced to the Mid-States Football Tournament championship game with a 31-12 victory over the Indiana Mustangs at Horlick Field Saturday night.

Veteran quarterback Gary Griffin threw for four touchdowns and a two point conversion in the win and T.J. Hearn booted a 37-yard field goal. Griffin threw touchdowns to Dorian Palmer, Will Norwood and Traves Worthington in the victory.

The Raiders will host the Southern Lakes Blue Devils next Sunday, October 30, at 2:30 p.m. at Horlick Field.