The best eight kids placing has been the argument of the coaches for a very, very long time.

What you're trying to argue for is intent of why there was a change and ignoring the conversation what event is harder to place at, which is really the real change that has happened here.

If you can't wrap your head around what event is more difficult to place at, one of two things is likely true

-You highly care about the perception or the "worthiness" of going to state and think that's the goal

-You don't like that it's harder to place at state and probably had an easier region that benefited you. I would even go as far to say that you were excited to see what ranked wrestlers got left at home in the Eastern Washington region each year.