Kirchdorf Wildcats

The Kirchdorf Wildcats are an American football team in Kirchdorf am Inn, Germany. The club's greatest success came in 2017 when it won the southern division of the German Football League 2 and earned the right to play-off for promotion to the German Football League which they won against the Saarland Hurricanes.

Kirchdorf Wildcats
Founded1986
LeagueGerman Football League
Team historySimbach Wildcats
(1995–2003)
Kirchdorf Wildcats
(2004–present)
Based inSimbach (1986–2003)
Kirchdorf (2004–present)
StadiumInn-Energie-Arena
ColorsWhite and Black
   
PresidentHans-Peter Klein
Head coachDustin Daniels
Division titlesGFL 2 South: 1994, 2003, 2014, 2017
Websitekirchdorf-wildcats.de

The club was formed as the Simbach Wildcats in 1986, then based in Simbach am Inn. It was renamed in early 2004 after the club had moved to Kirchdorf.

History

The club was formed in 1986 as the Simbach Wildcats in Simbach am Inn, Bavaria. After only playing friendlies in its first two seasons the club entered the Bavarian league in 1988. It won a league championship in 1992 and earned promotion to the 2. Bundesliga, a league later renamed to GFL 2. In 1994 the club won the southern division of the 2. Bundesliga but lost both games against the Stuttgart Scorpions in the promotion round and had to remain in its league. By 1998 the Wildcats were suffering from a lack of players, forcing the club to voluntarily withdraw from the 2. Bundesliga to the tier four Bayernliga.[1][2]

The Wildcats quickly recovered from their decline, winning the Bayernliga title in 1999 and moving up to the Regionalliga. After three seasons at this level another league championship in 2002, followed by a victory over Wiesbaden Phantoms in the promotion play-offs, took the club back to the 2. Bundesliga. The following season, 2003, the club won another title in the southern division of the 2. Bundesliga. In the promotion round to the German Football League Simbach lost on aggregate against Marburg Mercenaries, missing out on promotion to the highest level for a second time. At the end of the season the club decided to relocate to Kirchdorf.[1] In March 2004, the club received permission to change its name to Kirchdorf Wildcats after a move from Simbach to Kirchdorf.[3][2]

Five more seasons in the 2. Bundesliga followed in which the club slowly declined in performance. In 2008 the club decided to withdraw from the 2. Bundesliga for a second time, this time to the level below, the Regionalliga. Kirchdorf won the southern division of this league in 2009 and 2010 but missed out on promotion in 2009 when it lost to the Holzgerlingen Twister. The year after it was more successful and returned to the 2. Bundesliga, now renamed GFL 2. After three average seasons there from 2011 to 2013 the club took out the division championship in 2014 once more.[1] The later qualified the Wildcats for the promotion round to the GFL once more where it faced the Franken Knights for a spot in Germany's highest league but lost both games. In the 2015 season Kirchdorf finished in third place. The 2017 season was a great success for the club. They won the GFL 2 South Championship and then beat the Saarland Hurricanes in relegation. Starting in 2018 they will compete in the GFL, Germany's highest league.[2]

Honours
  • GFL 2
    • Southern Division champions: 1994, 2003, 2014, 2017

Recent seasons

Recent seasons of the club:[4][5][6]

YearDivision FinishPointsPct. GamesWDL PFPA Postseason
2012 GFL2 (South) 6th11–170.393 14518 392450 —
2013 5th14–140.500 14707 366293 —
2014 1st25–30.893 141211 311154 Lost PR: Franken Knights (22–50 & 36–42)
2015 3rd18–100.643 14905 481309 —
2016 2nd21–70.750 141013 604325 —
2017 1st19–50.792 12912 459325 Won PR: Saarland Hurricanes (21–28 & 43–19)
2018 GFL (South) 7th7–210.250 143110 167372 —
2019 8th5–230.179 142111 276513 Lost RR: Ravensburg Razorbacks (28–40 & 34–58)
2020 GFL2 (South) No season played because of the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 3rd10–60.625 8503 227153 —
2022 2nd16–40.800 10802 346116 —
2023 1st18–20.900 10901 366163 promoted to GFL, Ravensburg Razorbacks withdrew
  • PR = Promotion round.
  • RR = Relegation round.

References
  1. Geschichte (in German) Kirchdorf Wildcats website – Club history, accessed: 10 September 2014
  2. Kirchdorf Wildcats season by season results football-history.de, accessed: 10 September 2014
  3. Namensänderungen: Kirchdorf Wildcats und Hamburg Eagles Archived 2014-09-11 at the Wayback Machine (in German) GFL website, published: 26 March 2004, accessed: 10 September 2014
  4. GFL 2 season 2012 football-aktuell.de, accessed: 10 September 2014
  5. GFL 2 season 2013 football-aktuell.de, accessed: 10 September 2014
  6. GFL 2 season 2014 football-aktuell.de, accessed: 10 September 2014
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