Right now former McNeese two-time All-American Erika Piancastelli is on a plane with her Italian softball team headed to Japan for the 2020 Olympics. ”I think the word everyone can agree on right now is FINALLY,” said Piancastelli. “We’ve been waiting so long for this moment and its finally here. It feels unreal right now. My teammates and I have been talking about this moment for almost two years now.”

The native of Modena, Italy, who holds several McNeese and Southland Conference records will check this off her list of dreams and accomplishments she set when she was a young kid. The Italian team will open the Olympic competition at 10 p.m. (Central Time) July 20 against the United States.