Last winter, Chris Toulouse's wrestling season ended in the regional's "blood round."
This season, it's ending at state.
The Grosse Ile senior qualified for next week's Division 3 state meet by placing third at 171 pounds at Saturday's regional at Williamston.
As a junior, he reached the "blood round," in which the winner is guaranteed to place third or fourth and the loser goes home.
On Saturday, he passed that hurdle after splitting his first two matches, then went on to win the third-place match.
The top four in each weight class qualified for the individual state meet, which will be held for all four divisions at The Palace of Auburn Hills starting at 2:45 p.m. Thursday. The double-elimination event will continue next Friday and conclude on March 13.
Results will be updated by the Michigan High School Athletic Association during the tournament at www.mhsaa.com.
Grosse Ile Coach Rob Beaudrie said Toulouse (37-6) has a shot at placing in the top eight.
"There are a good eight, nine guys in that weight class who are phenomenal," Beaudrie said. "If he's hungry, he's got a shot to place."
Four other Red Devils qualified for the regional, and three lost in the "blood round" to bow out at 1-2 -- Kelsey Hanson (103), Larry Bohl (189) and Eric Schmidt (275).
Hanson, a senior, was aiming to be the first girl in Downriver history and just the sixth in MHSAA history to qualify for a wrestling state meet.
She had been battling the flu all week and lost her first match on a 6-3 decision before pinning Sadiq Alkanas of Melvindale in 4 minutes, 29 seconds. She lost 6-0 in the "blood round."
Schmidt and Bohl also dropped their first matches, won their second and lost their third.
Larry Mazzola (152), who was bothered by a nagging elbow injury, was 0-2.
Mazzola finished at 17-9, Hanson 32-12, Schmidt 32-10 and Bohl 27-16.
"The kids wrestled hard all day," Beaudrie said. "The kids worked hard all year.
"They had a good season."
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