Even if they opted to be in Open, don't think the committee had to put them in. I think Vanden probably would have been better choice here.I agree its kinda screwy. But I guess since CN beat SHC they had no other choice? Unless they took someone else, which maybe they should have..
And how do we validate this rumor? I give them credit for wanting to be in open after winning last year, if it is true of course