Górnik Wałbrzych (basketball)


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

History

Gornik was founded in 1946, when former German city of Waldenburg become part of Poland. 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 Gornik's basketball team were the 1980s.In 1981, Gornik was Polish league runner-up, in 1982 it won its first championship. In 1983 and 1986,the club was a runner-up again. Gornik won its second Polish league title in 1988.Then, in the 1990s, coal-mining industry in the city of Walbrzych collapsed and, lacking sponshorship, Gornik started to decline. In 1995, the White and Blue left top-tier league due to poor financing, despite finishing 4th.Good times returned in the 2006–2007 season, when Gornik, with a new sponsor and under the name Victoria-Gornik, won promotion to the elite Dominet Basket Liga. However, it faced relegation to Division I in 2008–2009 season.
From 2009 through 2011 Gornik played in the Division I but missed playoffs both seasons. Due to financial deterioration, the club restructured and started over from the bottom, Division III. Gornik spent three seasons in Division III and won promotion in 2014. From 2014 through 2017 Gornik was contending in Division II and planned to return to Division I. In 2017–18 season, the White and Blue, playing a 7th man 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 to no 1 seed Slask Wroclaw.
Season 2019-20 was suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Poland. At that time, few games shy to close the regular season, Gornik 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.

Honours and Achievements

Polish Basketball League:
SeasonTierLeagueHead Coach
2019–202Division I1stGrudniewski
2018–192Division I8thRadomski
2017–183Division II2ndRadomski
2016–173Division IILost in Quarter-finalsChlebda
2015–163Division IILost in Quarter-finalsChlebda
2014–153Division IILost in Second RoundChlebda
2013–144Division IIIWon play-offsChlebda
2012–134Division III7th in Wroclaw Regional LeagueChlebda
2011–124Division III7th in Wroclaw Regional LeagueChlebda
2010–112Division I15thChlebda
2009–102Division I14thChlebda, Chodkiewicz
2008–091PLK14thMłynarski, Adamek, Chudeusz
2007–081PLK13thCzerniak
2006–072Division I2ndCzerniak
2005–062Division I10thAdamek
2004–052Division I12thAdamek, Krzykała
2003–043Division II1stKrzykała
2002–033Division II5thMłynarski
2001–023Division II4thMłynarski
2000–012Division I11thChodkiewicz
1999–002Division I3rdChodkiewicz