Toledoan Candice Coleman missed her final chance to become an American Idol when she failed to be chosen as a wild card.

Coleman, however, was not upset. “Actually, it was complete relief,” she told The Blade.

The 22-year-old 1997 Start High School graduate had been eliminated from the show two weeks ago during its second round of cuts. But all of the eliminated contestants had a second shot at the competition through the wild-card process.

The show's celebrity judges - Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell - picked Aliceyn Cooney, Carmen Rasmusen, Chip Days, Clay Aiken, Janine Falsone, Kimberly Caldwell, Nasheka Siddall, Olivia Mojica, and Trenyce.

Of the nine selected, Coleman observed, “They don't have any rockers in the group.”

The wild cards willcompete Tuesday for four slots to advance to the finals.

A total of 12 will compete in the final round and one contestant will be announced in May as the winner and receive a major recording deal.

Locally, Coleman performs at Manos and at the Easy Street Caf . She is scheduled to perform the national anthem at tomorrow's Toledo Storm game and in April at the opening game of the Toledo Mud Hens' season. Coleman is also scheduled to open for Jefferson Starship during its Toledo performance on March 28 in the Stranahan Theater.

First Published February 28, 2003, 12:58 p.m.