A press release earlier today from Pro Recco, the Italian First Division water polo club, was a flash of promising news for Luca Cupido—and positive vibes for the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team as well. Formerly with the University of California at Berkeley, the 6-4 attacker who last June was awarded the Cutino Award as America’s top male collegiate polo athlete, agreed to train with one of the world’s most prestigious clubs, potentially as early as next January.

This represents an important opportunity for a player who may prove pivotal to American hopes in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. A star performer for four years under Cal Head Coach Kirk Everist, in 2017 Cupido won every conceivable honor on this side of the Atlantic—National Player of the Year, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Year, the Cutino Award—and will now have the opportunity to train with the world’s best players and play for Ratko Rudic, perhaps the most successful coach in the history of the sport.