Racine Sun

The Racine Raiders minor league football team is starting what is expected to be another successful season, and despite facing many challenges last year, coaches and players are optimistic.

Head coach Wilbert Kennedy is back for his 30th year with the team. It is his ninth season as a coach, and he spent 21 years as a player from 1989-2009. He played at Lake Geneva in high school before playing at the University of Wisconsin–Stout.

“We play to win all our games, obviously, but my key is to get to see everybody play,” Kennedy recently told the Racine County Eye. “It’s a tough conference, it’s good football, and every year you’re just not sure who’s going to win. We strive for a national championship every year.”

Most of the players with the Raiders are local natives, with the majority coming from Horlick, Park, and Case high schools, the three major schools in the area. The team was eliminated from the playoffs last year, but they most recently won a championship in 2014.

The Raiders used to travel nationwide to games, most of their schedule this year will be against teams in the Midwest.

“The conference used to be more regional, and we would travel all over the country when I started coaching in 2014,” Kennedy said. “Now it’s mostly us and Illinois teams. There can be 1,800 people in the stands. We have a real nice crowd.”

After suffering through 17 player injuries last year, the Raiders hope to rebound and win a championship, having already won their opener, 39-0 over Sheboygan County on May 14.