Górnik Wałbrzych (basketball)

Górnik Wałbrzych is a Polish men's basketball team, based in Wałbrzych, southwestern Poland, currently in Polish Basketball League. Name 'Górnik' stands for 'Miner' as the city of Walbrzych was known for its thriving mining industry until the early 90s.

History

Górnik was founded in 1946. The most famous departments - basketball and football, were opened in the same year. The basketball team in 1956 won promotion to the Division I, and in 1970 it appeared for the first time in the Polish top flight. Best years for Górnik's basketball team were the 1980s. In 1981, Górnik was Polish league runner-up, in 1982 it won its first championship. That season, club legend Mieczysław Młynarski set the single-game league record by scoring 90 points in a 133–109 win over Pogoń Szczecin. In 1983 and 1986, the club was a runner-up again. Górnik won its second Polish league title in 1988.

Then, in the 1990s, coal-mining industry in the city of Wałbrzych collapsed and, lacking sponsorship, Górnik started to decline. In 1995, the White and Blues left the top division due to poor financing, despite finishing 4th. Good times returned in the 2006–07 season, when Górnik, with a new sponsor and under the name ''Victoria-Górnik'', won promotion to the elite Dominet Basket Liga. In 2007–2008, they finished 10th out of 13 teams with a record of 9–15. However, it was relegated to Division I after finishing in last place in the 2008–09 season.

From 2009 through 2011 Górnik played in the tier-2 league but missed playoffs in the first season and suffered relegation in the second. Due to financial deterioration, the club restructured and started over from the bottom, Division III (fourth-tier league). In 2013, Górnik Wałbrzych joined forces with the local rival, Górnik Nowe Miasto, also playing in the tier-4. The goal was to establish one, strong basketball program. Górnik spent three seasons in tier-4 and won promotion in 2014. From 2014 through 2017, the team was contending in Division II (tier-3) and planned to return to Division I (tier-2). In 2017–18 season, the White and Blues, playing a short rotation, unexpectedly reached the finals and finished second in Division II. Next year, the team advanced to Division I playoffs as 8th seed but lost in the first round (1-3) to no. 1 seed Śląsk Wrocław.

Season 2019-20 was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. At that time, few games shy to close the regular season, Górnik was leading the Division I standings with 18–5 record. Later on, it was officially named the 2020 Division I Champion. Nevertheless, was not promoted to top flight.

The Miners had a three-year span (2021-2023) of reaching the Division I finals but finishing as runner-up in all of them and, in result, not advancing to tier-1 league.

By becoming champions at the end of 2023–24 season, Górnik Wałbrzych was promoted from Division I called I Liga, after spending 15 years in the lower leagues. The team entered play-off as 2nd seed.

Honours and achievements

Polish Basketball League:
* Winner (2): 1982, 1988
* Runner-up (3): 1981, 1983, 1986
* 4th place: 1989, 1995

Polish Cup:
* Winner (1): 2025

I Liga:
* Winner (2): 2020, 2024
* Runner-up (4): 2007, 2021, 2022, 2023

Youth leagues:
* U-14 Polish League - 4th place (2011)
* U-18 Polish League Champions (1979,1980)
* U-18 Polish League Bronze Medalist (2003)
* U-18 Polish League - 4th place (2002)
* U-20 Polish League Runner-up (2000)

Notable players

* Mieczysław Młynarski
* Stanisław Kiełbik
* Tadeusz Reschke
* Andrzej Adamek
* Adam Waczyński
* Kamil Chanas
* Jeremy Montgomery
* Rafał Glapiński
* Aleksander Balcerowski

Retired Numbers

*4. Zenon Kozłowski

Forward, 2nd most games all time for Górnik (1974-90), with Górnik: 2x Polish League Champion, 3x runner-up

Note: It was agreed that Damian Durski, the product of club's academy and current team captain, is eligible to wear no 4.

*5. Tadeusz Reschke

Center, member of Polish National Team, with Górnik: 2x Polish League Champion, 3x runner-up

*6. Wojciech Krzykała

Point Guard. With Górnik: 2x Polish League Champion, 3x runner-up

*9. Ryszard Wieczorek

Forward. 2x Polish League Champion with Górnik, 1981 runner-up

*10. Jerzy Żywarski

Shooting Guard. 2x Polish League Champion with Górnik, 3x runner-up

*12. Mieczysław Młynarski

Forward. Member of Polish National Team, 3rd Top Scorer of the 1980 Olympics, 2x EuroBasket Top Scorer, 5th All-Time Polish League Top Scorer (total points), 90 points scored in a single game of tier-1 Polish League (1982). 1982 Polish League Champion with Górnik, 3x runner-up

*14. Stanisław Kiełbik

Guard. Member of Polish National Team. 2x Polish League Champion with Górnik, 2x runner-up

Seasons

Players

Current roster

Notable players

* Andrzej Adamek
* Kamil Chanas
* Rafał Glapiński
* Stanisław Kiełbik
* Mieczysław Młynarski
* Tadeusz Reschke
* Adam Waczyński
* Aleksander Balcerowski
* Jeremy Montgomery

References

External links

Official website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gornik Walbrzych
Basketball teams in Poland
Basketball teams established in 1946
1946 establishments in Poland
Sport in Lower Silesian Voivodeship
Wałbrzych