Grunwald Poznań (sports club)

WKS Grunwald Poznań is a multi-sports club based in Poznań, Poland. The handball section had been champions several times whereas the field hockey section is one of the top teams not only in the country but in Europe. Other sections have been champions in Poland and have had Olympic representation.

Naming history

• 1947–1950: Wojskowy Klub Sportowy "Kadra" Poznań
• 1950–1957: Wojskowy Klub Sportowy Poznań
• 1957–present: Wojskowy Klub Sportowy Grunwald Poznań

Establishment

The club was founded by a group of officers and deputy officers of the Poznań garrison. The founding meeting was held at the seat of the Municipal Office of Physical Education and Military Training at ul. Matejki 61. The name of WKS Kadra Poznań and the club's statute were established, the management board, the audit committee and the court of honor were elected. Kazimierz Gawrycki, the then commander of the MUWFiPW in Poznań, became the first president. The first sports sections were also established: football, boxing, athletics, shooting and tennis. section was founded in 1987. The first success of the section was winning in 1988 the gold medal of the Polish Championships in the relay, the team consisting of: Gliszczyński, Domagała, Niedzielski. The section is the most successful club in the country, a European contender since the early 90s and indoor in equal measure.

Handball

The handball section is historically one of the most successful, and was a dominant force in the country in the 70s and 80s.

Freestyle wrestling

The freestyle wrestling section was founded in 1951, where recruitment was organised through the local press.

The most notable athletes were Władysław Stecyk, Grunwald athlete in 1969–1988; and Monika Michalik, bronze medalist of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olynpics and gold medalist of the 2017 European Wrestling Championships in Novi Sad. The club is a member of PZSS and WZSS.

Tennis

The tennis section was one of the first section founded upon establishment of the club, in 1947. However the section initially survived only until 1951.