STANFORD, CALIF. – The Cardinal’s Dan Scherer had the upset of the night Sunday as the senior took down Oregon State All-American Taylor Meeks in an overtime thriller that brought the crowd at Maples to its feet. A takedown was awarded after several long moments, giving Scherer a 4-2 win.

“I feel like I can now be at my most athletic and wrestle to my best potential at 197,” said Scherer who was also named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the meet.

[Related video: Oregon State secures third straight conference title]

The senior competed at the heavyweight level for the past two years because his coaches thought 230 lbs. would be an ideal weight, judging from the size of his older brothers who both played football for the University of Pennsylvania.

He placed fourth at the Pac-12 championships in 2013, third in 2012, and qualified for the NCAA tournament in the 2011-12 season. But in his final season, Scherer and his coaches decided to drop him down a weight class to 197 lbs.

“It was a little bit of a drop at the start, but it’s been working out and I’m just loving the season this year,” said Scherer.

[Related: Oregon State wrestling reflects on three-peat performance]

Scherer competed at 184 lbs. his freshman year, which is where he first competed against Meeks, who was in his redshirt season at that time. But the two conference foes were not matched up again until two years later when Scherer left the heavyweight division.

Meeks earned All-American honors with a fourth-place finish last year at the NCAA championships with two pins and a major decision. He earned a runner-up finish at the Pac-12 championships in 2012 and followed with a Pac-12 title in 2013.

[Related: Photos: 2014 Pac-12 Wrestling Championships]

“I didn’t see him sophomore or junior year, but I’ve wrestled him twice this year so it’s been good,” said Scherer.

This is Scherer’s first Pac-12 title and second NCAA championship appearance for Stanford. He will participate in the NCAA tournament for the second time on March 20 in Oklahoma City.