Tartan's Dotas is Consummate Student Athlete

Patch writer Jeff Roberts caught up with girls basketball, golf and tennis player Rochelle Dotas to talk about college, comebacks and home schooling.

Oakdale Patch: How long have you been playing basketball?

Rochelle Dotas: Since third grade.

Oakdale Patch: What do you love about it?

Dotas: I love the adrenaline of it. I love getting pumped up with my teammates. There is nothing specific about it, I just love the game. Growing up basketball was always my least best sport but it's my favorite sport.

Oakdale Patch: What do you do off the court, when you're not playing basketball?

Dotas: I play golf and tennis through Tartan High School. I also work two jobs. I'm a nanny and I work at . I'm also a full-time PSEO at Century College. I'm taking 17 credits this semester. And I'm also involved in a lot of Bible study. So, it's a lot.

Oakdale Patch: What is your best moment on the court?

Dotas: Probably the game against Chisago Lakes High School last year. We were down 18 at halftime and I lit it up. I had like 30 points that game and 20 of them came in the second half and we ended up winning the game by 10 points. It was the best comeback we've ever had and I felt great because I contributed to that. It was an amazing comeback.

Oakdale Patch: Who is your inspiration on the court?

Dotas: I don't know. I don't watch that much basketball really. I would say Tessa Cichy (of Hill Murray High School) or Jessica January (of Richfield High School) in our conference. They're so amazing. For girls to be that good at basketball is really inspiring.

Oakdale Patch: Who is your inspiration off the court?

Dotas: My dad. He's a great guy. He ran the Oakdale Athletic Association; he's involved in Oakdale City Council; and he's the leader of a few different Bible studies. He has always supported me. He got me involved in all of my sports and he is the one who still always plays golf or tennis with me.

Oakdale Patch: What is one thing people don't know about you?

Dotas: I have been home-schooled since first grade. I've never actually been to Tartan High School. I'm still technically home-schooled but I'm a full-time student at the college. People are always telling me that they never see me around school and I always have to answer, “Well that's because I'm not there.”

Oakdale Patch: What are your plans after high school?

Dotas: I'm graduating with an Associate of Arts degree from Century along with my high school diploma. That's happening this spring and then I'm going on to the University of Minnesota-Morris. I got a full-ride scholarship for academics and I'm planning to play basketball and golf there too. I'm planning to major in chemistry and minor in Spanish and then I'm hoping to go to medical school after that.

Oakdale Patch: What made you choose UM-Morris?

Dotas: I chose it because it has a really good mathematics and science program. They're No. 1 in their conference in sports and also all my credits from Century transfer. They also gave me a full-ride scholarship so going there was kind of a no-brainer.