The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
Arts & Sports
Wednesday, April 6, 2016 — 7A
In recognition of
Slimane’s vision
Exit of legendary
creative director
marks new chapter
for Saint Laurent
By ANAY KATYAL
Daily Arts Writer
It’s been an open secret for
some time. But this past April
Fools, in twistedly humorous
fashion, Kering, owner of Saint
Laurent (and a cachet of other
labels ) finally confirmed that
Hedi Slimane, the man credited
for the signature aesthetic so
synonymous with Saint Laurent
today, is leaving his post as cre-
ative director of the label. In an
industry where designer turn-
over has been a topic of critical
discussion, Slimane’s exit isn’t
the most welcome of news, but
the legacy he leaves behind him
at Saint Laurent is of great sig-
nificance.
Before
Slimane
took
the
helm, Stefano Pilati’s eight-
year stint as creative director
of the label led to Saint Laurent
being known for its concep-
tual, avant-garde focus toward
collections.
Oftentimes,
it
resulted in fascinating, eclectic
pieces that went in a multitude
of directions. Slimane all but
stymied that approach in his
four years with Saint Laurent,
but where he lacked in a sense
innovation, he more than made
up in his adherence to cohe-
sion and consistency. It’s an
approach the romantics of the
fashion world may not enjoy,
but the powerhouse that Saint
Laurent has become can largely
be attributed to Slimane’s own
doing.
Slimane shook Saint Lau-
rent from the ground up when
he first began his reign. Under
his guidance, the look and busi-
ness of the label went through
a creative consolidation in line
with Slimane’s vision. A signa-
ture aesthetic was crafted for
the label, backed by the pieces it
produced and the label’s public
persona so meticulously crafted
by Slimane. He even moved to
drop “Yves” from the label’s
title in the process — a decision
still widely criticized for how it
axed the symbolic connection
between the label and its very
own founder.
In his bid for commercializa-
tion of the label, Slimane reap-
propriated a lot of what he saw
being worn and embodied on
the streets of Paris and New
York’s clubs, creating a roman-
ticized version of modern urban
street culture. With vintage
biker jackets and shredded
denim galore, Slimane’s Saint
Laurent peddled an expensive
homage to today’s urban youth,
an approach that was met with
its fair share of critics.
Despite the fashion world’s
often tenuous relationship with
Slimane, his unrequited love
for indie rock and youth culture
garnered audiences in droves.
Under Slimane, Saint Laurent’s
sales doubled. Retailers could
barely keep up with the demand
for Saint Laurent’s ready-to-
wear pieces. He often rehashed
vintage designs, and his cre-
ative direction rarely deviated
from the singular philosophy he
employed, but people enjoyed
the products that came out of it.
Celebrities and customers alike
sought excuses to publicly don
his work whenever possible.
Slimane’s unwavering adher-
ence to his fashion ideology
is largely what led to much of
the success he enjoyed at the
label. It’s unclear whether his
successor, Anthony Vaccarello
(announced Monday afternoon)
will take the helm bearing Sli-
mane’s own flag or venture in
a direction of his own, but the
brand Saint Laurent is today
is a brand with plenty of cul-
tural capital and staying power
thanks to Slimane’s efforts.
Vaccarello, undoubtedly, has
fairly large shoes to fill.
STYLE NEWS
RITA MORRIS/Daily
The Michigan rowing team finished second-best out of four teams at the ACC/Big Ten Double Dual on Saturday.
Michigan falls to Virginia
Wolverines lose
to fourth-ranked
Cavaliers at four-
team meet
By KATIE CONKLIN
Daily Sports Writer
The Michigan women’s rowing
team traveled to Columbus over
the weekend with one thing in
mind — to beat No. 4 Virginia.
Though the seventh-ranked
Wolverines had a solid showing
overall at the ACC/Big Ten
Double Dual, they were unable
to pull ahead of the Cavaliers at
Griggs Reservoir on Saturday.
The first varsity eight boat
was closest to victory in the
first morning session. The crew
crossed the finish line at 6:26.2,
just over three seconds slower
than Virginia. The Cavaliers
expanded the gap against the
second varsity eight and the
varsity fours, though they were
still competitive.
Entering the second session
of the day, Michigan was set
for a comeback. Racing against
Clemson and Michigan State — the
Wolverines beat the latter team in
September — they took charge.
Winning all varsity races,
Michigan rowed through the
Tigers
and
Spartans
with
ease. The first varsity eight,
conducted by junior coxswain
Francesca Derteano, redeemed
itself with a 6:40.7 victory,
more than five seconds faster
than runner-up Michigan State,
while the second varsity eight
won by nearly 13 seconds.
Both the first and second
varsity fours demolished their
competition, pulling ahead of
second place by 10 and 18.4
seconds, respectively. Michigan
State, the Wolverines’ lone Big
Ten competition, trailed in third
for both races.
Michigan will see more Big Ten
competition this coming weekend
against Ohio State and Rutgers
when it travels to Camden, N.J.
And with a few Big Ten wins
under its belt, the team will enter
the water confident.
Hutchins preaches confidence
By AVI SHOLKOFF
Daily Sports Writer
There have been moments
this season when Megan Betsa
absolutely dominated opposing
hitters. In one instance, against
Western Michigan, the junior
right-hander allowed only one hit
in six innings. In another, facing
Northwestern, she fanned 12 in
five innings.
At other points, Betsa remains
wild
and
inconsistent,
most
notably in her appearances from
the bullpen. Coming on in relief at
UCLA, Betsa walked four batters
in two innings and nearly lost
Michigan’s lead. Most notably,
in the Wolverines’ disappointing
loss in the first game of the
Northwestern series, she pitched
to four batters, walking three and
hitting one to earn her second loss
on the season.
An important part of this stark
difference in performances stems
from Betsa’s lack of confidence,
according to Michigan coach Carol
Hutchins. Throughout her 32-year
career coaching the Wolverines,
she has pointed to confidence as
the most significant factor to a
player’s success. Hutchins instills
this in her players by teaching them
to focus on their preparation and to
believe in their daily workouts.
“A player who plays with
confidence is twice the player
who’s playing with no confidence,”
Hutchins
said.
“Confidence
means you aren’t afraid of failing,
you’re confident that what you do
can work. You’re not afraid that it
won’t work.”
Betsa
understands
the
importance of relaxing and simply
focusing on one batter at a time. If
she loses composure in a game,
her fellow players go to the circle
and simply tell her to calm down
and offer their support.
“Last year really proved that
for me, when I
was confident,
I threw way
better,” Betsa
said. “I’m good
enough to beat
anyone in the
country,
and
when I believe
that, I’m really
good.”
Michigan’s
disastrous loss to Northwestern
is a prime example of what occurs
when it loses its confidence. The
Wolverines, who led by six runs
at one point, coughed up their
advantage, and despite a sudden
awakening late in the game, the
rally ultimately proved futile.
“It occurred to us that we might
not win, so our lineup stopped
scoring,” Hutchins said. “Then
in the seventh, they were afraid
of losing, and then (the players)
played to win.”
Thus, for Michigan to continue
its recent string of victories
and high-powered offense, it is
imperative for the top-ranked
Wolverines to maintain high poise
both with a lead and a deficit.
Two players stand out as
showing
high
determination.
Hutchins believes that fifth-year
senior right-hander Sara Driesenga
exuded tremendous confidence
during a tournament in Fullerton,
Calif., last month. She pitched 13
shutout innings and garnered two
wins in that weekend.
Throughout
the
season,
senior
second
baseman Sierra
Romero
has
demonstrated
this
same
tenacity on both
offense
and
defense.
“You
can
watch Romero
play, and you
really have to
look hard to see her lose a minute
of her confidence,” Hutchins
said. “It’s really a rare occasion.
She’s fearless.”
Even when she strikes out, she
maintains this belief in herself,
which makes her even tougher.
Romero’s fellow players support
their coach’s claims of her constant
dedication and determination.
“Knowing that Romo ahead of
me is going to get on, or (senior
right-fielder
Kelsey
Susalla)
behind me, takes the pressure
off,” said junior left-fielder Kelly
Christner. “(Knowing this) helps
(me) relax up there.”
Offensively,
Hutchins
can
determine a player’s mindset from
her first swings by seeing if the
batter is pondering her decisions
at the plate. Because Hutchins
knows her players so well, she
can sense from the dugout if one
of them is having a bad day. She
urges her players to simply focus
on their strengths rather than
dwell on their weaknesses.
Betsa looks to shortstop Abby
Ramirez for a boost, as the junior
demonstrates
consistency
and
a helpful smile. To have such a
person behind her in the infield is
essential for a pitcher who, as she
has shown this season, can perform
to an All-American level but also
show shades of inconsistency.
Christner demonstrates that
Hutchins’ players heed the lessons
of their coach. She even adds her
own interpretation of confidence.
“I think the main thing is being
mentally tough,” Christner said.
“I know that I am a great player
and I know that I can go up there
and hit the ball. If I am not right
in my head, then I’m not going to
do well. I think just setting aside
everything else, going back to
the basics, clearing your mind,
because it takes the pressures
situations and tones them down
into a regular at-bat.”
As much as Hutchins would
like for every individual on
her team to constantly show
confidence, her players sometimes
let the pressure get to them.
The Wolverines’ job is to limit
those moments to the best of their
ability.
BASEBALL
Wolverines dig
early hole, snap
winning streak
By NATHANIEL CLARK
Daily Sports Writer
The No. 17 Michigan baseball
team entered South Bend, Ind.,
having won its last nine games
and 13 of its
last 15.
All
of
that came to an end Tuesday
night as the Wolverines (12-6)
fell to Notre Dame, 9-5. The nine
runs that Michigan surrendered
tied for the most it has given up in
a single game this season.
“We weren’t keeping a tally,”
said Michigan coach Erik Bakich
of his team’s winning streak. “As
much as we want to win every
single game, nobody does that at
any level.”
The Fighting
Irish attack on
the Wolverines
began in the
second inning
when
Notre
Dame
(16-11)
put runners on
first and second
with
no
one
out. Michigan’s
starting pitcher, freshman right-
hander Will Tribucher, hit the
next batter to load the bases for
the Fighting Irish.
Following the play, Notre Dame
catcher Ryan Lidge hit a two-run
double to put the Fighting Irish
up, 2-0. Bakich had seen enough
and proceeded to pull Tribucher
in favor of freshman right-hander
Troy Miller.
“I can’t wait to see (Tribucher)
again this weekend,” Bakich said.
“Because I know he is going to
do great. Tonight just wasn’t his
night, and I told him that on the
mound. He’s going to get right
back on the horse this weekend.”
But the first batter Miller
faced, Fighting Irish centerfielder
Kyle Richardson, blasted his own
two-run double to widen the gap
to four. An RBI double by first
baseman Zak Kutsulis later in the
frame extended Notre Dame’s
advantage to five.
Miller
escaped
the
third
inning
without
any
further
damage,
but
Fighting
Irish
designated hitter Jake Shepski
launched a two-run home run in
the bottom of the fourth to make
the score 7-0. Left fielder Ricky
Hernandez hit an RBI single to
left field later in the inning to put
Michigan down 8-0.
Michael Herne stymied the
Wolverines’ offense as he pitched
seven innings and allowed just
three hits. He surrendered only
one run, which came in the
form of a home run by freshman
shortstop Michael Brdar, making
the score 9-1.
“It was just one of those nights
where we got behind early,”
Bakich said. “We got behind with
two big innings that they scored
in — the second and the fourth —
and that was really it. It’s just one
of those nights.”
But Michigan found new life
in the eighth inning when it
put
runners
on first and
second
with
no one out.
Senior
left
fielder
Matt
Ramsay
was
up to bat.
Ramsay
hit
what
appeared to be
a
groundout,
but a throwing error allowed a run
to score. Three batters later, senior
centerfielder Cody Bruder singled
to left to make the score 9-3.
In the next at-bat, sophomore
designated
hitter
Drew
Lugbauer
smacked
a
two-
run triple to left field to trim
Michigan’s deficit to four.
But
the
comeback
effort
fell short as Brdar struck out
swinging and the Wolverines
went down 1-2-3 in the ninth.
“Our guys certainly showed
some grit and some resiliency like
they have many times,” Bakich
said. “Unfortunately, we just dug
ourselves too big of a hole early in
the game to get out of it.”
Michigan will have little time
to lick its wounds, though, as the
Wolverines are slated to return
home to take on Bowling Green
on Wednesday before beginning
a three-game set with Minnesota
on Friday.
“The good thing about baseball
is that sometimes you get an
opportunity the very next day (to
recover from a loss),” Bakich said.
“And that’s the case for us. We
have something to look forward
to tomorrow.”
KRISTINA PERKINS/Daily
Michigan coach Carol Hutchins constantly tries to instill the importance of confidence in her players, and it has paid off so far for the top-ranked Wolverines.
“If I am not right
in my head, then
I’m not going
to do well.”
MICHIGAN
NOTRE DAME
5
9
“It was just one
of those nights
where we got
behind early.”