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Andrew "Drew" Balshi '05
Dubbed by The Morning Call as “one of the area’s finest overall athletes,” Drew excelled in both team and individual sports while at Moravian Academy. His successful journey began as a freshman when his victory at No. 3 singles notched the state championship for Coach Tom Schoeninger and the boys’ tennis team.
He went on to earn Colonial League accolades, as well as a District singles championship and two District doubles championships. Crowning glory came his senior year, garnering the state doubles title with partner Eric Bourassa ’05.
After getting sporadic playing time on the basketball court as a freshman, Drew became a three-year varsity starter and a Via Classic all-star. At the time, he led the Lehigh Valley in scoring with an average of 21.3 points per game and ended his high school career with 1,352 points.
Drew joined the golf team during his sophomore year. During his senior year, he helped the team to an undefeated season and their first District title.
Said former athletic director Jim Tiernan, “During his tenure at the Upper School, Drew took part in 19 of the school’s 32 championships or gold-medal winning efforts. His accomplishments made him one of the most versatile and successful athletes I encountered in my 45 years in high school athletics. And he accomplished these astonishing milestones with an appropriate dose of humility, unbelievable mental toughness and a smile on his face.”
In February 2005, Drew signed a letter of intent to continue his scholastic and playing career at Lehigh University. The two-time Express-Times Player of the Year played varsity tennis for three years until an injury cut short his college career. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business management, he began working for True North Chartering, a tanker brokerage firm formed a month prior to his graduation.
A “lifer,” he reflected on his time at Moravian, “Beyond what I was so fortunate to learn in the classroom, the time and experience shared with teammates and coaches while practicing and competing have also stayed with me. I was lucky to have an older brother (Chris ’02) to look up to from day one, and as the years progressed, I made it a goal to try to model what he taught me for younger teammates. The love and support that my peers and I received from my parents, and so many other parents, teachers, and coaches in the Moravian family created an environment unlike any other. And so, I credit these people with any success we earned at Moravian. All of the hard work that we put in on the courts and course was rewarded at both the District and State level, which, in turn, gave me a level of confidence in myself and teammates that I have carried with me throughout the years. It's hard to imagine I would be where I am today without the foundation created at Moravian.”
Still working for Wilton, CT-based True North Chartering as a partner in the firm and manager their Dirty Product Tankers desk, Drew currently resides in New York City. He enjoys spending time with wife Bronwen Durocher, an occasional round of golf, and exploring the endless new restaurants in the city.
