1981 NCAA Championships
118 lb
Champion Gene Mills, Syracuse (NY).
Placers
Places 1 to 8 as the record has them.
Championship
Opening round · 4 bouts
- Chuck Ludeman, Wisconsin over Ray Broughman, William & Mary (VA) — SD 17–5 · View bout
- Leo Misdom, Illinois State over Bill Brookens, Idaho State — Dec 8–6 · View bout
- Mike Erb, Oregon over Dan Stefancin, John Carroll (OH) — Dec 11–10 · View bout
- Mike Millward, Lock Haven (PA) over Jeff Bentley, Indiana (IN) — Dec 6–4 · View bout
Round of 32 · 16 bouts
- Barry Davis (3), Iowa over Dave Martin, Arizona State — SD 21–9 · View bout
- Bobby Weaver, Lehigh (PA) over Roger DeSart (11), Nevada-Las Vegas — Dec 12–11 · View bout
- Brian Higa, Washington State over Chris Taylor (7), Brigham Young (UT) — Dec 17–14 · View bout
- Chris Wentz (5), North Carolina State over Mark Verr, Northern Illinois — SD 23–4 · View bout
- Chuck Ludeman, Wisconsin over Todd Cummings, Bloomsburg (PA) — Dec 8–4 · View bout
- David Parisi, Oswego (NY) over Jorge Leon (12), West Chester (PA) — Dec 5–4 · View bout
- Gene Mills (1), Syracuse (NY) over Bob Dickman, Indiana State — Fall 5:40 · View bout
- Joe McFarland, Michigan over Adam Cuestas (4), California-Bakersfield — Dec 9–7 · View bout
- John Hartupee (10), Central Michigan over Tom Moore, Appalachian State (NC) — SD 18–1 · View bout
- Mike Clevenger, Louisiana State over Tracy Moore (9), Utah State — Dec 6–5 · View bout
- Mike Millward, Lock Haven (PA) over Wade Genova, Boston (MA) — MD 12–3 · View bout
- Mike Picozzi (6), Iowa State over Joe Spinazzola, Missouri — Fall 7:46 · View bout
- Reggie Johnson, Ashland (OH) over Leo Misdom, Illinois State — Dec 9–8 · View bout
- Scott Morgan, Nebraska over Mike Erb, Oregon — Dec 8–5 · View bout
- Tom Reed, Southern Illinois Edwardsville over Randy Willingham (2), Oklahoma State — Dec 9–8 · View bout
- Tony Calderaio (8), Slippery Rock (PA) over Orlando Caceras, Arizona — Dec 12–6 · View bout
Round of 16 · 8 bouts
- Brian Higa, Washington State over Scott Morgan, Nebraska — Dec 8–3 · View bout
- Chris Wentz (5), North Carolina State over Mike Millward, Lock Haven (PA) — Fall 2:55 · View bout
- Gene Mills (1), Syracuse (NY) over David Parisi, Oswego (NY) — Fall 4:19 · View bout
- Joe McFarland, Michigan over Mike Clevenger, Louisiana State — Dec 15–8 · View bout
- John Hartupee (10), Central Michigan over Barry Davis (3), Iowa — Fall 1:57 · View bout
- Mike Picozzi (6), Iowa State over Chuck Ludeman, Wisconsin — Dec 6–3 · View bout
- Tom Reed, Southern Illinois Edwardsville over Bobby Weaver, Lehigh (PA) — Fall 7:44 · View bout
- Tony Calderaio (8), Slippery Rock (PA) over Reggie Johnson, Ashland (OH) — Dec 13–11 · View bout
Quarterfinal · 4 bouts
- Chris Wentz (5), North Carolina State over Joe McFarland, Michigan — Dec 8–5 · View bout
- Gene Mills (1), Syracuse (NY) over Tony Calderaio (8), Slippery Rock (PA) — Fall 6:44 · View bout
- John Hartupee (10), Central Michigan over Mike Picozzi (6), Iowa State — Dec 11–9 · View bout
- Tom Reed, Southern Illinois Edwardsville over Brian Higa, Washington State — SD 27–5 · View bout
Semifinal · 2 bouts
- Gene Mills (1), Syracuse (NY) over Chris Wentz (5), North Carolina State — SD 28–4 · View bout
- John Hartupee (10), Central Michigan over Tom Reed, Southern Illinois Edwardsville — Dec 7–4 · View bout
Final · 1 bout
- Gene Mills (1), Syracuse (NY) over John Hartupee (10), Central Michigan — Fall 6:35 · View bout
Consolation
Consolation round 3 · 4 bouts
- Barry Davis (3), Iowa over Tom Moore, Appalachian State (NC) — MD 15–4 · View bout
- David Parisi, Oswego (NY) over Bob Dickman, Indiana State — MD 15–4 · View bout
- Mark Verr, Northern Illinois over Mike Millward, Lock Haven (PA) — Dec 7–5 · View bout
- Randy Willingham (2), Oklahoma State over Bobby Weaver, Lehigh (PA) — Dec 10–4 · View bout
Consolation round 4 · 4 bouts
- Barry Davis (3), Iowa over Mike Picozzi (6), Iowa State — Dec 16–11 · View bout
- Joe McFarland, Michigan over Mark Verr, Northern Illinois — Dec 5–3 · View bout
- Randy Willingham (2), Oklahoma State over Brian Higa, Washington State — SD 16–4 · View bout
- Tony Calderaio (8), Slippery Rock (PA) over David Parisi, Oswego (NY) — Dec 8–4 · View bout
Consolation round 5 · 2 bouts
- Joe McFarland, Michigan over Tony Calderaio (8), Slippery Rock (PA) — MD 13–4 · View bout
- Randy Willingham (2), Oklahoma State over Barry Davis (3), Iowa — Dec 4–2 · View bout
Consolation semifinal · 2 bouts
- Randy Willingham (2), Oklahoma State over Chris Wentz (5), North Carolina State — Dec 6–2 · View bout
- Tom Reed, Southern Illinois Edwardsville over Joe McFarland, Michigan — Dec 7–3 · View bout
Placement bouts
3rd-place bout · 1 bout
- Randy Willingham (2), Oklahoma State over Tom Reed, Southern Illinois Edwardsville — Fall 3:14 · View bout
5th-place bout · 1 bout
- Joe McFarland, Michigan over Chris Wentz (5), North Carolina State — Dec 5–4 · View bout
7th-place bout · 1 bout
- Barry Davis (3), Iowa over Tony Calderaio (8), Slippery Rock (PA) — Dec 12–6 · View bout
Bouts as the source workbook records them, in round order. No bracket positions or byes are inferred.