CHERRY TWP — Moniteau High School will soon be hanging a new banner in its gymnasium.

It won't be in recognition of a championship in football, basketball, baseball or any other sport. It will signify sportsmanship.

Moniteau is one of two District 9 schools — Johnsonburg being the other — receiving a PIAA Sportsmanship Award for the 2015-16 athletic season.

“This is something we're very proud of,” Moniteau athletic director John Stoughton said. “Moniteau has never received this award before.

“It represents all of our athletic programs in a very positive way.

The PIAA has been presenting sportsmanship awards annually to each district since 1997.

There are 34 schools in District 9, which is permitted to present up to three sportsmanship awards each year. Bonnie Wilbert, athletic director at North Clarion High School, is the chairman of the district's sportsmanship committee.

“It works through a nomination process and a school cannot nominate itself,” Wilbert said. “Once our committee receives the list of nominations, we check to see if any of them had a coach or athlete disqualified from a game or event during that school year.

“If there was even one person from the school thrown out of any athletic activity at any time, that school is not eligible for the award.”

Wilbert described Stoughton as being “very hands on” when it comes to the image Moniteau athletics is portraying to other schools in the district.

“They weren't always that way, but I've been in this business for 40 years and Moniteau is definitely steering in the right direction,” she said.

Wilbert added that the sportsmanship award extends beyond the athletes. It includes coaches, administrators, parents and the Warriors' fan base as well.

How opposing teams are treated by all of the above play into the criteria for the award.

“Other schools have reported nothing but positive experiences and feedback from Moniteau crowds, coaches and administrators at games and events,” Wilbert said.

Along with the sportsmanship banner, Moniteau receives a $750 check from the PIAA to use toward athletics.

“We've received that money and we're free to use it in any way we see fit,” Stoughton said. “We're considering starting up some type of sportsmanship scholarship with it.

“The coaches of all of our sports teams have done a tremendous job of stressing the right way to play the game. I've seen our basketball players help opposing players up, baseball and softball players say 'nice hit' or 'good catch' to players on the other team ... Respecting the opposition should be a big part of athletics at any level.”