Eleven-year-old Gia Rocco may be young, but her shooting accomplishments would put most adults to shame. Having begun shooting at the age of five with a pink BB gun, it was a mere two years before she moved on to .22-caliber rifles. Just a year later, she began competing in IDPA, USPSA and Steel Challenge matches. She's made the podium in the junior division for several events, including second place at the 2013 Texas State Steel Championships, and third at the 2014 Smith & Wesson Steel Nationals. The latest development? Otis Technology recently announced that it will be sponsoring her.
Rocco is trained by her father, Adolfo "Spyder" Gallela, who instills the importance of firearm safety in every training. Gallela is a NRA firearms instructor as well as range safety officer. "We really appreciate sponsors like Otis-it gives us the freedom to focus on Gia's training and take her skills to the next level," states Spyder. He continues, "they're helping her turn her dream into a reality."
"Supporting a young female competitive shooter hits home to the founder of Otis, as she started the company at the age of 16 after a fall in the mud while hunting. Supporting programs that introduce our youth, and especially females, to the shooting sports have been engrained in the culture of this company from inception," states Len Nelson, VP of Sales & Marketing at Otis Technology.
Rocco joins an elite group of pro staff sponsored by Otis Technology including U.S. Olympians, Kim Rhode and Tracy & Lanny Barnes; competitive shooters, Doug Koenig and Max Michel: exhibition shooters, Aaron & Steve Gould; country music entertainer, Mark Wills; and nine-time MMA champion, Matt Hughes.
