Could Cole be king?

Preparing for the final hurdle of the competition with a few extra singing lessons, 12-year-old Cole Fletcher is a little nervous, but he is already a winner — he has the trophy to prove it.

The Huntington Beach seventh-grader is a finalist in the O.C. Icon singing contest, beating hundreds of Orange County hopefuls and winning over the judges in auditions and semi-finals. Cole will take the stage once more Saturday for the contest’s two-hour finale, in which 30 mini-musicians will get their chance to shine. Cole has a one-in-10 chance of winning the whole contest in his age division.

“If I win, it would be a big deal,” Cole said. “That would be one of the top five moments of my life.”

O.C. Icon is a singing competition for Orange County kids aged 7 to 18 years old. The contest is put on by WBZB Entertainment to give kids a unique performing opportunity, said Bruce Sampson, WBZB Entertainment president and producer of O.C. Icon.

The caliber of talent that comes through the competition is as good as or better than many artists on the radio today, Sampson said. With the high level of competition and the hundreds of kids who have already been weeded out in the audition and semi-finals, making the finals is an accomplishment in itself, Sampson said.

“Just getting to the finals, you have already won,” he said.

A little nervous about his song choice, Cole will be singing “Thankful” by Josh Groban. After singing “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5 and “Electricity” from “Billy Elliot The Musical” in the auditions and semi-finals, Cole went with the song because he is more passionate about it.

“I was pretty nervous,” Cole said. “I was happy to just be auditioning.”

Cole picks songs that fit him, his mother, Lucia Fletcher, said. “Electricity” is especially significant for Cole, who said he could relate to the teasing Billy Elliot’s character endured — but not anymore. Cole started school this year at the Orange County High School of the Arts, a place where, he said, he couldn’t be happier.

“It’s the best school ever,” Cole said.

He has wanted to go to the school since third grade, Fletcher said. His framed acceptance letter hangs on his wall beside pictures of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe.

Growing up loving dancing and singing wasn’t always easy. When he was younger, his mother wanted him to play sports, Cole said. He tried baseball and soccer, but they didn’t work out.

“I was literally dancing on the field,” Cole said. “I remember I was playing defense in soccer and was singing to ‘Guys and Dolls.’”

His mother finally realized he wasn’t a “sports boy” and gave him a flier for a local children’s theater program, and they haven’t looked back since.

“As a parent, you want your kids to do what they love,” Fletcher said.

The switch to the performing arts school has put Cole with students with the same passions as himself. Students walk around singing, wearing fox tails and fairy wings, Cole said.

“They can express themselves, and no one judges them,” Fletcher said.

The family has taken Cole’s passion and dived in head first. Cole’s sister, father and even their dog have taken to the stage. Randy Fletcher, Cole’s father, started performing in plays with his son. While Cole counts teen heartthrob Zach Efron and actor John Travolta as career inspirations, his dad also makes the list.

“My dad loves to sing,” Cole said. “He has just always been supportive of me.”

Randy Fletcher got into acting on a whim. While sitting around waiting during one his son’s play rehearsals, he volunteered to read lines. Now the two have performed in about six plays together. Randy Fletcher said he does the plays to spend time with his son.

“I ride his coattails,” he said.

Another member of Cole’s family played a special part in his performing career. Cole’s late grandmother look him to his first play nearly six years ago. The experience was life-changing for Cole, but it will take on a new significance Saturday.

The theater, the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, is where Cole saw his first play and where he will take the stage for the O.C. Icon finals.

If You Go

What: O.C. Icon Finals

Where: Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday

Cost: $17.50

Info: www.ocidol.com