Wikipedia

Górnik Wałbrzych (basketball)

For association football section, see Górnik Wałbrzych (football).

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.

Górnik Wałbrzych
Nickname"Miners"
LeaguesPolish Basketball League
Founded1946; 78 years ago (1946)
HistorySniezka Aspro Swiebodzice
1994-95; Górnik Zamek Książ Wałbrzych
2023–present
ArenaAqua Zdrój
Capacity2,000
LocationWałbrzych, Poland
Team colorsWhite Blue
  
Main sponsorZamek Książ
PresidentRafał Palonek
Head coachAndrzej Adamek
Team captainKrzysztof Jakóbczyk
OwnershipGórnik Kosz.Plc
Championships2 Polish League
1 I Liga
Retired numbers4,5,6,9,10,12,14
Websitehttps://www.gornikwalbrzych.com.pl/

History

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Players of Górnik Wałbrzych in 1990

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.[1] 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.[2] However, it was relegated to Division I after finishing in last place in the 2008–09 season.[2]

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.[3]

Honours and achievements

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Polish Basketball League:

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

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

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Retired Numbers

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  • 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

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

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Season Tier League Pos Head Coach
1999–00 2 Division I 3rd Chodkiewicz
2000–01 2 Division I 11th Chodkiewicz
2001–02 3 Division II 4th Młynarski
2002–03 3 Division II 5th Młynarski
2003–04 3 Division II 1st Krzykała
2004–05 2 Division I 12th Adamek, Krzykała (sacked)
2005–06 2 Division I 10th Adamek
2006–07 2 Division I 2nd Czerniak
2007–08 1 PLK 13th Czerniak
2008–09 1 PLK 14th Młynarski, Adamek (sacked), Chudeusz (sacked)
2009–10 2 Division I 14th Chlebda, Chodkiewicz (sacked)
2010–11 2 Division I 15th Chlebda
2011–12 4 Division III 7th Chlebda
2012–13 4 Division III 7th Chlebda
2013–14 4 Division III 1st Chlebda
2014–15 3 Division II 2R Chlebda
2015–16 3 Division II QF Chlebda
2016–17 3 Division II QF Chlebda
2017–18 3 Division II 2nd Radomski
2018–19 2 Division I 8th Radomski
2019–20 2 Division I 1st Grudniewski
2020–21 2 Division I 2nd Grudniewski
2021–22 2 Division I 2nd Grudniewski
2022–23 2 Division I 2nd Radomski
2023–24 2 Division I 1st Adamek

Players

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Current roster

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Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Górnik Wałbrzych roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht.
G 0   Gotcher, Toddrick 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 31 – (1993-03-14)14 March 1993
G 1   Gilbert, Alterique 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 27 – (1997-10-06)6 October 1997
C 2   Niedźwiedzki, Piotr 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 31 – (1993-06-02)2 June 1993
G/F 3   Smith, Ike 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 27 – (1997-07-05)5 July 1997
G 4   Durski, Damian 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 26 – (1997-12-28)28 December 1997
G 11   Wiśniewski, Aleksander 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 21 – (2003-01-13)13 January 2003
F 21   Bojanowski, Maciej 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 28 – (1996-05-20)20 May 1996
G 24   Marchewka, Kacper 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 22 – (2002-07-24)24 July 2002
C 30   Patton, Joshua 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 27 – (1997-03-07)7 March 1997
F 31   Berzins, Janis 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 31 – (1993-05-04)4 May 1993
PF 41   Kulka, Grzegorz 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 28 – (1996-04-04)4 April 1996
G 55   Jakóbczyk, Krzysztof (C) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 37 – (1986-12-03)3 December 1986
F/C 91   Wyka, Dariusz 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) 32 – (1991-12-03)3 December 1991
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  •   Zoran Čarapić
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  •   Injured
Updated: October 5, 2024

Notable players

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References

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  1. ^ Szałkowski, Artur (10 December 2021). "39 lat temu Mieczysław Młynarski, koszykarz Górnika Wałbrzych zdobył w meczu ligowym 90 pkt!". Klodzko.Naszemiasto.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Retro PLK: Ostatnie przygody Górnika Wałbrzych (WIDEO)". PolskiKosz.pl (in Polish). 26 March 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Górnik Zamek Książ Wałbrzych wygrywa Pekao S.A. 1LM". 1lm.pzkosz.pl (in Polish). June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
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