Matteo Deswarte Commits to Swim for Drexel University

The Croatian swimmer and European junior competitor will join the university's men's team in the fall of 2027.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Swimming

Matteo Deswarte Commits to Swim for Drexel University

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Matteo Deswarte has verbally committed to swim for the Drexel University men's team in Philadelphia. The Croatian swimmer plans to join the Coastal Athletic Association program in the fall of 2027.

Why it matters

Deswarte brings international competition experience to the Philadelphia-based program, adding to a roster that currently includes 12 international male swimmers. His addition highlights the global recruitment reach of the Drexel swimming team.

Drexel University confirms that its current men's swim team roster includes 12 international athletes. It remains unknown how the team's composition will evolve by the 2027 season.

The players

Matteo Deswarte

A competitive swimmer from Zagreb, Croatia, specializing in sprint freestyle, breaststroke, and individual medley events.

Drexel University

A Philadelphia-based university with a men's swimming program that competes in the Coastal Athletic Association.

The details

Deswarte currently trains and competes with the Plivacki Klub Dubrava club in Zagreb. He specializes in sprint freestyle, breaststroke, and individual medley events. His competitive background includes appearances at the 2026 European Aquatics Junior Championships and the MM Ilirija competition.

April 2026: Deswarte placed 3rd in the 50 breast, 6th in the 100 breast, and 7th in the 100 free at the MM Ilirija competition.
July 2026: Deswarte placed 25th in the 50 breast and 31st in the 100 breast at the European Aquatics Junior Championships.
Fall 2027: Deswarte is expected to join the Drexel University swimming program.

Health Landscape

Collegiate swimming programs like those in the Coastal Athletic Association frequently leverage international talent to remain competitive. This move aligns with broader trends in athletic development where swimmers seek high-level training environments in the United States.

For Philadelphia-area fans interested in collegiate athletics, Deswarte will be a key swimmer to watch starting in 2027. Following the performance metrics of incoming international athletes is a common way to track the development of local university sports teams.

The takeaway

Deswarte represents a new addition to a program with a high density of international talent. Fans and followers of Philadelphia college sports can look for his debut as a top contributor in the fall of 2027.