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

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

4/8/2026 2:23:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

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 the program record, the league announced Wednesday.

Two-time NCAA and CSCAA All-American junior Shiyun Lai and KU diving coach Allen Feng were additionally named Big 12 Diver of the Year and Big 12 Diving Coach of the Year, respectively, marking the first time in program history that a diver-coach duo has won the awards in consecutive seasons.

"Our program is so happy for both Shiyun and Allen," KU head swimming coach Clark Campbell said. "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 said. "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 leading KU's diving program, Feng has guided Lai to three consecutive NCAA Championship appearances, most recently contributing to a 25th-place team finish and producing improved scores for both Lai and senior Lize Lukas van Leeuwen at the NCAA Zone Diving Meet. This marks the first time a Kansas diving coach has earned the distinction two years in a row.

All-Big 12 First Team honorees included Lai, seniors Lize Lukas van Leeuwen and Lydia Lafferty with Second Team selections 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 placing in the top four at the Big 12 Championship, while Second Team recognition goes to those finishing fifth through eighth.

Lai posted first and second-place finishes on the 1-meter and 3-meter dives, respectively, at the Big 12 Championship and set a new school record on the platform dive with 260.55 points. She is the first Jayhawk to earn All-Big 12 First Team honors in back-to-back seasons. At the NCAA Championships, Lai finished eighth on the 1-meter and fifth on the 3-meter, the second-best performance by a Jayhawk since Michelle Rojohn won the 3-meter in 1996, earning her Big 12 Diver of the Year for a second consecutive season.

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

Lafferty finished fourth in the 100-yard butterfly (53.12) and ninth in the 100-yard backstroke (53.50) at the Big 12 Championships. She previously earned Second Team honors in the 2025 Big 12 Championship and set new school records in the 100-yard butterfly twice this season (53.02 and 52.96).

Dyer placed eighth in the 500-yard freestyle (4:49.50) for Second Team honors, also finishing 20th in the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.58) and ninth in the 1,650-yard freestyle (16:42.03). She broke two Robinson Pool records in the 500-yard freestyle this season (4:48.59 and 4:47.91).

Haag earned sixth in the 1,650-yard freestyle for Second Team recognition and placed 19th in the 500-yard freestyle.

Johnston finished seventh in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:12.77) for Second Team honors and ninth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.26), contributing to multiple top-10 relay finishes.

Solt became the first freshman to earn an All-Big 12 honor since 2013, placing fifth in the 500-yard freestyle (4:49.36) and contributing to top 10 relay finishes. She also finished 16th in the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.81) and 10th in 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

Lize van Leeuwen