Christopher Balshi ‘02 & Samir Ghia ‘02
Samir Ghia ‘02 and Chris Balshi ‘02 led the Boys’ Tennis Team from 1999-2002, winning League, District, and State Championships. In 1999, Samir placed 3rd in the Pennsylvania State Singles Championship and in 2000, Chris and Samir were runners up in the State Doubles Championship. 2001 was a particularly strong year, as the duo led the team to an outstanding 20-0 record and District 11 Team Championship, and Chris and Samir won the State Doubles Championship. In 2002, they led Moravian Academy to the State Team Championship, with Samir placing 4th in the State Singles Championship.
About Chris Balshi ‘02
At Moravian, Chris was a talented three-sport athlete playing basketball and runningcross country in addition to tennis. In cross country, he was a two time Colonial League 5K race winner and a two time District XI top 10 finisher.
"I have great memories of playing multiple sports with some of my best friends and my brother Drew. Athletics were always an important part of my experience at Moravian and I am glad to have been there during a great stretch for the tennis team and other programs."
After Moravian, Chris Balshi went onto Middlebury College and now lives in Bethlehem, PA. Chris is President of Maurer & Scott Sales, Inc. headquartered in Coopersburg PA and maintains blaster's licenses in five states.
In his free time he enjoys being with his wife Laree and children, Lenni and Brick, as well as playing golf, platform tennis, and fishing.
About Samir Ghia ‘02
After graduating from Moravian Academy in 2002, Samir attended Columbia University, where he played on the Men’s Tennis Team and earned a B.A. in Political Science. After Columbia, Samir enrolled in Stetson University’s College of Law and School of Business Administration, graduating with J.D. and M.B.A. degrees in 2011. Samir practiced law at Greenberg Traurig in Miami, where he specialized in representing owners and developers in real estate development projects in both transactional and litigation capacities. Samir also served as an adjunct professor of law for Florida International University College of Law, leading courses in Intellectual Property and Business Law.
Samir went on to start Ghia Law and Triten Law, nationally-focused mass tort law firms representing individuals injured by defective medical devices, harmful pharmaceuticals, and dangerous consumer products, among other matters. From 2020-2023, Samir was named a “Rising Star” by “Super Lawyers” and “Top 40 Under 40" by The National Trial Lawyers publication.
In 2020, Samir co-founded Opt Health in San Francisco. Opt Health is a digital health platform focused on preventive medicine, epigenetics, and longevity. By digitizing the process, Opt aims to provide access to proven health optimization treatments to a broader audience.
Samir is most grateful to Moravian Academy for friendships made, and for instilling the credo of “developing mind, body, and spirit,” which serves as a guiding force in his life to this day. Samir dedicates his Hall of Fame induction to his father, Dr. Pradeep S. Ghia.