Skagit Valley Herald Boys' Soccer Player of the Year: Elijah Natekin

Though Elijah Natekin is listed on the Mount Vernon High School boys' soccer roster as a defender, his impact is felt on both ends of the field.

Natekin is the Skagit Valley Herald Boys' Soccer Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

The senior, a first-team all-Northwest Conference selection, captained a Bulldogs team that finished 16-3-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 3A State Tournament.

"I'm proud of how I played and how hard I worked," Natekin said.

Bulldogs coach Behr Ibarra certainly agreed with that.

"On the field, Elijah was one of the most dangerous players in our league," he said. "At any moment, he could change the course of a game."

This season was one in which Natekin continued to hone his skills on the field while moving to an unfamiliar position.

"I think it was a bit of a step up for me from last year because I'm usually a left back, but this year I played left wingback the whole season," Natekin said. "It was something I was a little bit familiar with. I'm just proud of myself for doing that."

The new position meant more deep runs toward the goal.

It provided Natekin more freedom to create, and that showed as his 11 goals - three game winners - were an increase from five a season ago.

"The goal he scored against Lynnwood in the winner-to-state game will forever be one of the most memorable moments of my coaching career," Ibarra said. "With the score tied 1-1, Elijah stepped up from approximately 25 yards out and blasted a shot into the back of the net from a difficult angle, securing our trip to the state tournament for the fifth time and Elijah's third."

Natekin's ability to apply pressure on offense, then turn and reapply it on defense was what set him apart.

"He could score in the run of play, create opportunities for others, or strike from a set piece inside 30 yards with remarkable precision," Ibarra said.

For Natekin, this season was about becoming even more of an offensive threat.

"Last year, my main thing was getting assists and passing," Natekin said. "I did have some goals, but they were mostly free kicks. This year, I did more on the attacking side, scoring from open play and beating players 1-v-1.

"I definitely found myself being in the box more and trying to take players on and getting and creating my own scoring opportunities."

That work ethic continued when he raced back to anchor the defense.

"Defensively, he was equally impressive," Ibarra said. "He was one of our best 1-v-1 defender and approached defending with relentless determination. Once he locked onto an opponent, he would not stop until he won the ball back and disrupted the attack."

Natekin tallied 10 assists, the biggest of which came in a 1-0 win over Heritage in a state playoff match.

He had a 90% pass completion rate this season and was on the field for a total of 1,600 minutes.

"And that doesn't include injury time," Ibarra said.

He also continued to lead by example.

"More than anything, Elijah was the heartbeat of our team," Ibarra said. "He earned the respect of his teammates through his work ethic, leadership, and commitment to the program. Throughout the season, our players fought tirelessly to earn him one more game in a Bulldog uniform because of what he meant to them and to our program."

It was a matter of wanting to be there for his team, Natekin said, being the person and the player to be counted on to step up in difficult situations.

"I'm supposed to be that person," he said. "As a captain, as a senior. I felt that pressure a little bit, but it didn't get to me. It made me want to work harder."

Natekin leaves the program feeling grateful, saying he was proud of the team and coaches for what were able to accomplish.

Ibarra said, "As the No. 13 jersey signs off from Mount Vernon's lineup, Elijah leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered for years to come. We are incredibly proud of the player, leader, and young man he has become."

Next year, Natekin will play at Skagit Valley College where plans on taking his first steps to becoming an engineer. After Skagit Valley College, he hopes to continue playing soccer at a four-year college.

"I'm super excited," he said of what's to come. "I can't wait for the next season."

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 7:04 AM.