Having come from one of the smallest Hawaiian islands in the Pacific Ocean, 16-year-old junior Katie Sarme is adjusting well to her new habitat in Sedona.

A full 2,903 miles from home in Lanai City, Hawaii, Sarme is attending Sedona Red Rock High School this year, and she happens to be a decent athlete.

Sarme made the varsity team for the Scorpion girls basketball program this month, and plans to play softball in the spring for Sedona as well.

“I came here to try something new,” Sarme said. “The school I was at was boring. So, my family and I decided to try something different.”

Sarme attended Lanai High School as a freshman and sophomore, but after her aunt moved to Sedona in 2009, Sarme dreamed about coming to the mainland.

“My aunt, Patricia Noble, moved her a couple of years ago, and I’ve wanted to be here ever since. My dad finally agreed and I moved here in June this summer,” Sarme said.

Sarme played basketball and softball at Lanai, and plans to do the same for the Scorpions this school year and hopefully her senior year.

At 5 feet, 2 and 1/2 inches, Sarme will play mostly point guard for second-year Sedona Head Coach Tina Hawes.

“She can play ball,” Hawes said. “We’re glad to have Katie [Sarme], and she will help us a lot.”

Sarme began playing basketball in eighth grade and when she got to Lanai, the coaches surprisingly put her at the forward position.

“I was the biggest kid on the team, and I’m 5’2”,” Sarme said with a big smile. “I’m one of the smaller girls here.”

Sarme prefers the guard position compared to the post, stating she enjoys seeing the floor and being able to get her teammates more involved.

The young guard from Lanai has two older sisters, an older brother and a baby sister back on the island, and she says she misses them all.

“Our biggest thing was spending time with family. We did everything together, especially during the weekends,” Sarme said.

Hunting, skateboarding, fishing and playing the ukulele are just a few of the things Sarme does for fun while not attending school or playing sports.

Currently, Sarme holds a grade point average of 3.2 and doesn’t have a job, stating that she likes to focus more on school and sports rather than work.

After Sarme graduates in May 2013, she hopes to attend a college that specializes in the medical field, such as a nursing, or even an athletic training degree.

During her spare time, Sarme also likes to watch the NBA on television, and she hopes the NBA lockout ends soon.

“My favorite teams are the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls. I’m a big Derek Rose fan,” Sarme said.

In the springtime, Sarme said she hopes to play second base for the Scorpions, but she is up for wherever the coach decides to put her since she has experience all over the infield.

“I actually like softball more than basketball; I get more into it,” Sarme said.

For now, Sarme will continue to get to know her teammates in Sedona, while keeping up with her family in Hawaii over the phone and on the Internet.

“I like it here. It’s where I want to be,” Sarme said.