Gio Piloto, a 24-year-old tie-down roper from Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, won the first round of the 2024 Resistol Rookie Roundup with a smoking 7.2-second run, besting the pack by a second and a half.

To this point, Piloto had only won $2,789 on the year, but the Resistol Rookie Roundup added another $1,329 to his earnings. Piloto is a protege of World Champion Marcos Costa, the 2017 PRCA World Champion from Brazil.

It was all about Chance Rodriguez, though, Saturday, April 27, as he took home the 2024 Resistol Rookie Roundup tie-down roping title. The Parrish, Florida, cowboy won the eight-man round with a 9.5-second run to advance to the Finals. Rodriguez remained dominant in the four-man round, taking him the win with a 7.7 for $2,500.

Full Resistol Rookie Roundup Results:

Round 1

1. Gio Piloto, 7.2 seconds, $1,329; 2. Chance Rodriguez, 8.7, $1,156; 3. Savion Elias, 10.0, $982; 4. Nick Achille, 10.9, $809; 5. Rio Nutter, 11.7, $636; 6. Ty Moser, 12.2, $462; 7. Matt Gutierrez, 12.8, $289; 8. Chisum Allen, 13.0, $116.

Round 2

1. Chance Rodriguez, 9.5 seconds; 2. Savion Elias, 11.4; 3. Nick Achille, 11.8; 4. Rio Nutter, 12.2.

Finals

1. Chance Rodriguez, 7.7 seconds, $2,500; 2. Nick Achille, 8.6, $1,500.