Kinkaid junior wrestler Byson Huber stepped back onto the mat Saturday night for the annual “War on the Floor” duel against rival St. John’s.

It was Huber’s first major competition since tearing his MCL and meniscus last season. But, Huber delivered one of the night’s most defining moments during “War on the Floor.”

Wrestling at 190 pounds, Huber controlled his match from the opening whistle and secured a decisive victory, sending the bench into an eruption. The win marked a symbolic milestone for a program that has relied on his leadership for years.

“It felt unbelievable just to compete again,” Huber said. “The boys fought hard no matter the outcome of the match. That was our goal going into it – leave the mat knowing you have it your all,” he said.

Huber, who spent the offseason undergoing surgery and an exhaustive rehab routine, said the emotional weight of returning in a high-pressure rivalry settling only fueled his performance.

“I did not want the first thing people thought about me to be the injury,” he said. “I wanted them to see the work I put in to come back.”

Wrestler and junior Zach Neilson said Huber’s return provided not only a needed win but a spark for the entire lineup.

“Byson is one of the toughest kids I get to compete with day to day,” Neilson said. “To see him step out there after what he has gone through and then perform like that inspires me and all of the younger teammates around us.”

Sophomore Russle Bowden added that Huber’s approach in the locker room mattered just as much as his results on the mat.

“He kept reminding me and the team that grit matters more than the scoreboard,” Bowden said. “That mindset carried our guys through the duel.”

Though the Falcons came up short in the overall outcome and team score, Huber’s victory served as a reminder with state and city tournaments starting soon.

“This is just the beginning,” Huber said. “I’m back, and I’m ready to keep building.”