Before they were top-ranked contenders for Kentucky high school wrestling titles, Devin and Darian Allen were a two-man demolition crew in their own living room.
The duPont Manual High School twins spent their childhood wrestling so intensely that they frequently broke household items. To save the furniture, their mother transitioned them from the carpet to the mat during their freshman year. Now, in their final season as seniors, the brothers are looking to trade in domestic repairs for a pair of matching state championship medals.
The Allen twins have evolved rapidly from novices to elite competitors. Entering the 2026 season, both brothers are ranked among the best in their respective weight classes. Their success is built on a foundation of mutual accountability rather than just sibling rivalry.
"At the beginning of the season, when I had weight to lose, he was the one who was pushing me in practice," Darian Allen, the younger twin, said of his brother. "He was the one to give me that extra encouragement to push and strive for my goal".
That encouragement has translated into results on the big stage. During the 2025 KHSAA State Championship tournament, both brothers reached the podium. Devin Allen placed fourth, while Darian Allen finished as the state runner-up with a second-place finish.
For Devin, watching his brother’s ascent provides the ultimate motivation.
"When you see your brother climbing the rankings and beating everybody... it’s only right for me to hold up to his standard and match what he’s doing," Devin said.
As the 2026 season winds down, the goal for the Manual seniors is singular, ending their high school careers as state champions. Darian described a potential dual victory as the "cherry on top" of their high school journey. Devin added that achieving this goal together would make the years of hard work "all worth it.”
Their partnership will not end at the high school level. The brothers plan to continue their athletic careers at the same college wrestling program, ensuring their unique brand of brotherly support follows them to the next level.
While they compete in different weight classes, the twins have teased a "bonus match" for the fans if they both secure state titles. They have promised an unofficial "wrestle-off" before the mats are rolled up to determine who holds the ultimate bragging rights in the Allen household, truly the most important title to win.
Devin joked that he would pin his brother in 30 seconds, while Darian countered that he knows his brother's moves too well for that to happen.
"I feel like he knows that if he wrestled me, he would be nervous more than anybody else," Darian said. "Because I know exactly what he’s going to do before he’s going to do it.”