The switch in Hawai'i sports seasons last year caused a lot of confusion, debate and adjustments across the state.

It also opened a door of opportunity for Kamehameha's Dara Pagaduan, who took advantage in a big way.

Pagaduan already was an established all-around athlete. She was a starter on the Warriors' softball team since her freshman year, winning ILH all-star first team honors as a sophomore in helping Kamehameha win the league championship.

This season, Pagaduan again earned ILH all-star first team honors at third base, and helped the Warriors win league and state championships. In the state title game victory over No. 1 seed Mililani, she moved to the leadoff spot and responded with a double and two runs scored as Kamehameha won its first state crown since 2002.

Pagaduan previously spent her springs on the Warriors' track team, winning the ILH 800-meter gold medal as a sophomore and the 1,500-meter run as a junior. In the fall, she ran cross country and took 11th in the ILH championship meet as a junior.

The golden opportunity came this past winter, when Pagaduan was able to play varsity soccer for Kamehameha for the first time, with softball moving to the spring. She took advantage by earning a starting job at defender and was a key factor in helping shut down opponents as the Warriors captured their third straight state championship.

Pagaduan was equally versatile in the classroom, maintaining a 3.8 grade point average with a schedule including calculus, Hawaiian 5, honors biology and English. She has accepted a scholarship offer to play softball for the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, where she plans to pursue a degree in the medical field.