Lai, Feng, and Seven Jayhawks Earn File-Breaking Big 12 Postseason Honors

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Seven University of Kansas student-athletes earned All-Big 12 Women’s Swim and Dive First and Second Team honors this season, tying this system file, the league introduced Wednesday.

Two-time NCAA and CSCAA All-American junior Shiyun Lai and KU diving coach Allen Feng have been moreover named Big 12 Diver of the Year and Big 12 Diving Coach of the Year, respectively, marking the primary time in program historical past {that a} diver-coach duo has received the awards in consecutive seasons.

“Our program is so happy for both Shiyun and Allen,” KU head swimming coach Clark Campbell mentioned. “Our conference is tough, and repeating as the top diver and dive coach is elite. They represent KU and the Big 12 so well at the national level. Their hard work pays off for them and all of us.”

“It’s a great honor to be named Coach of the Year,” Feng mentioned. “I owe this recognition to my divers. They are the reason I love coaching and the motivation that pushes me to keep improving. I’m also truly grateful to our entire team, coaching staff, support staff and athletic department. Their dedication and support made this incredible season possible. For Shiyun, this award speaks to how exceptional she is. Her character, work ethic and dedication set the standard for our program and inspire everyone around her. This recognition is well deserved, and we couldn’t be prouder of her.”

In his fifth season main KU’s diving program, Feng has guided Lai to 3 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances, most lately contributing to a Twenty fifth-place staff end and producing improved scores for each Lai and senior Lize Lukas van Leeuwen on the NCAA Zone Diving Meet. This marks the primary time a Kansas diving coach has earned the excellence two years in a row.

All-Big 12 First Team honorees included Lai, seniors Lize Lukas van Leeuwen and Lydia Lafferty with Second Team picks being sophomores Gabi Dyer and Tait Haag, junior Ryan Johnston, freshman Ivy Solt and senior Lize Lukas van Leeuwen. First Team honors are awarded to athletes inserting within the high 4 on the Big 12 Championship, whereas Second Team recognition goes to these ending fifth by way of eighth.

Lai posted first and second-place finishes on the 1-meter and 3-meter dives, respectively, on the Big 12 Championship and set a brand new college file on the platform dive with 260.55 factors. She is the primary Jayhawk to earn All-Big 12 First Team honors in back-to-back seasons. At the NCAA Championships, Lai completed eighth on the 1-meter and fifth on the 3-meter, the second-best efficiency by a Jayhawk since Michelle Rojohn received the 3-meter in 1996, incomes her Big 12 Diver of the Year for a second consecutive season.

Van Leeuwen positioned fourth on the platform dive with 244.80 factors, incomes First Team recognition, and fifth on the 3-meter dive with 303.25 factors, qualifying for Second Team honors.

Lafferty completed fourth within the 100-yard butterfly (53.12) and ninth within the 100-yard backstroke (53.50) on the Big 12 Championships. She beforehand earned Second Team honors within the 2025 Big 12 Championship and set new college information within the 100-yard butterfly twice this season (53.02 and 52.96).

Dyer positioned eighth within the 500-yard freestyle (4:49.50) for Second Team honors, additionally ending twentieth within the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.58) and ninth within the 1,650-yard freestyle (16:42.03). She broke two Robinson Pool information within the 500-yard freestyle this season (4:48.59 and 4:47.91).

Haag earned sixth within the 1,650-yard freestyle for Second Team recognition and positioned nineteenth within the 500-yard freestyle.

Johnston completed seventh within the 200-yard breaststroke (2:12.77) for Second Team honors and ninth within the 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.26), contributing to a number of top-10 relay finishes.

Solt turned the primary freshman to earn an All-Big 12 honor since 2013, inserting fifth within the 500-yard freestyle (4:49.36) and contributing to high 10 relay finishes. She additionally completed sixteenth within the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.81) and tenth within the 1,650-yard freestyle (16:43.30).

ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM

Lydia Lafferty

Shiyun Lai

Lize van Leeuwen

ALL-BIG 12 SECOND TEAM

Gabi Dyer

Tait Haag

Ryan Johnston

Ivy Solt

Lize van Leeuwen