WORLD CHAMPION FREESTYLE WRESTLER SAMMIE HENSON AMONG THE TOP FIVE IN THE JAMES E. SULLIVAN AWARD BALLOTING, WON BY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STAR CHAMIQUE HOLDSCLAW 
 World Champion freestyle wrestler Sammie Henson (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) placed in the top five of the ballotting for the 69th Annual AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award, awarded annually to the top amateur athlete in the nation. 
 Tennessee Lady Volunteer superstar Chamique Holdsclaw  became the first female basketball player to win the the James E. Sullivan Award, as she was announced the 1998 Sullivan Award winner on February 17. 
 Holdsclaw, a 6' 2" senior forward from Astoria, New York, is the second Tennessee athlete in as many years to receive this honor. The 1997 recipient was Vol football quarterback Peyton Manning. Holdsclaw now joins Senator Bill Bradley (1965) and Bill Walton (1973) as the third basketball player to win this prestigious honor.  
 Two award presentations are scheduled at the University of Tennessee on Thursday;  the first at Thompson-Boling Arena press luncheon and the second presentation during halftime of the Tennessee/Vanderbilt Women's game. Voting was completed by the AAU Board of Directors, the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors, the AAU Sullivan Award Committee, and members of the sports media. 
 Joining Henson in the "Top Five" designation were football stars Rickey Williams, and Tim Couch and women's golf star Jenny Chausiriporn. This is the first year that the AAU has announced any information on the standings of the final vote. 
 Henson won a gold medal at 119 pounds at the World Freestyle Wrestling Championships. The victory was especially historic, as the competition was held in Tehran, Iran. He defeated an Olympic silver medalist in the championship bout. 
 Henson also claimed silver medals at the 1998 World Cup and 1998 Goodwill Games. In important domestic competition, Henson won gold medals at the U.S. National Championships and the Freestyle World Team Trials. 
 He was among 11 finalists that were included on the ballot for the award this year. The other finalists who did not place in the top five were Elton Brand (Basketball), Pat Burrell (Baseball), Matt Kuchar (Golf), Kristin Maloney (Gymnastics), Mark Ruiz (Diving) and Angelo Taylor (Track & Field). 
 Recognizing athletes who have achieved athletic excellence, exhibited leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism, the AAU Sullivan Award has been presented annually since 1930 as a salute to founder and past president, and a pioneer in amateur sports, James E. Sullivan. 
 Two Olympic champion wrestlers have won the James E. Sullivan Award: John Smith (1990) and Bruce Baumgartner (1995).