CHERRY TWP — More students will be cheering in the Moniteau School District come fall. The Moniteau School Board Monday night approved a booster organization for a competitive spirit team.

Board approval for the boosters was required before a team for competitive spirit could be formed as a school district sport. The new team will be a PIAA District 9-sanctioned team.

“I'm very excited for it. It's something they have been talking about for over two years,” said Joann Duke, chairwoman of the school board's extracurricular committee. “We have a lot of very talented kids and I think this is going to be a great opportunity for them. It's also going to help the parents.”

For the 2017-18 school year, the school will have three squads: fall cheer, winter cheer and competitive spirit. Fall cheer and winter cheer squads will continue cheerleading for school sporting events. Students participating in those squads may also try out for the competitive team.

The season for competitive spirit is from August to March. Tryouts for the team will be before the end of this month. The size of the team will depend on the results of the tryouts.

The board also approved Jacqualyn Tedeski as the competitive spirit team coach. She has been a coach for fall cheer in the district for 10 years. She also has worked with youths participating in competitive spirit and with community members.

“I think she will be a great person to lead our team into the future,” said John Stoughton, athletic director. “She has extensive experience in the cheerleading arena.”

The school district will cover compensation for the coach and the cost of team transportation to competitions.

Duke said students already participate in private competitive cheer teams in the area at considerable expense. She said many parents have shown interest in a school team.

“Competitive cheer now is one of the up-and-coming sports nationwide,” Duke said.

Rochelle Dailey will be president of the team boosters. Stoughton said she has experience as a district booster club leader and with competitive spirit teams.

Other District 9 school districts with competitive spirit teams include Allegheny-Clarion Valley, Butler, Karns City, Mars and Seneca Valley.