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Arizona Secures Verbal Commitment from 2020 Backstroker Mateja Milovanovic

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Mateja (“Matt”) Milovanovic, an Arizonan of Serbian heritage, has announced his verbal commitment to the in-state Wildcats for 2020-21.

“Very humbled and excited to commit to the University of Arizona! The team culture, the coaching caliber and the school support provide an environment to accomplish amazing things both athletically and academically. Thank you to my family, my friends and my coaches. Proud to be part of the Wildcat family! #beardown”

Milovanovic is a two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American and NISCA All-American from Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix. He swims year-round with Phoenix Swim Club under head coach Garrett McCaffrey and Mike Maczuga. The 6’5” senior is the reigning Arizona High School Division 1 champion in the 100 back (50.93) and 400 free relay (46.36 split), and runner-up in the 200 IM (1:53.33) and 200 medley relay (23.90 leadoff backstroke). He is one of the team captains this year as Brophy seeks its 32nd consecutive state title.

In club swimming, Milovanovic is a two-time U.S. Open qualifier. He first achieved the standard in the 200y back at Phoenix Sectionals in March with his sixth-place 1:48.26. That meet produced several more PBs: 100/200/1000 free, 50/100/200 back, and 200 IM. The next instance was in the 100m back this summer at Speedo Junior Nationals. There, he finished 39th in prelims with a PB of 58.27. He also scored a PB in the 200m back with 2:08.29. Two weeks prior, he’d swum best times in the 50/100/200/400m free and 200m IM at Mt. Hood Sectionals.

Top SCY times:

  • 200 back – 1:48.26
  • 100 back – 50.27
  • 50 back – 23.73
  • 200 IM – 1:51.61
  • 200 free – 1:40.05
  • 100 free – 46.20

Milovanovic would have scored in the C finals of the 100/200 back at 2019 Pac-12 Championships. The Wildcats’ top backstrokers in 2019 (Chatham Dobbs, Thomas Anderson, and Matt Lujan) will have graduated when Milovanovic begins, but he’ll overlap with Jack Anderson, Isaac Stump, Jack Murphy, and Ty Coen.

If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].

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Swim
5 years ago

This move by U of A is a decision on potential. Serious time drops hopefully happen in the future. All the best Mateja!

PsychoDad
5 years ago

“… iz Srbije brale, iz Krusevca grada.”

We will watch Mateju here in Austin often.

mr. gur
5 years ago

not only a great swimmer but an amazing guy. gonna do great things!

OGProdigy
5 years ago

6’5? Jeez this kid could be a diamond in the rough!

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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