This week the Clarion sat down with starting outside defender, Reggie Dunk, who leads the No. 7 ranked team in the nation with seven assists.

In addition to Dunk’s contributions offensively, Dunk has been named Summit League Defensive Player of the Week two different times and Summit League August and September Athlete of the Month.

Q: When did you start playing soccer?

A: I started when I was eight, when all the other kids were playing, and then I got really into it around seventh or eighth grade when I started playing club.

Q: What made you choose to play for DU?

A: It’s a cool area; I took a visit and loved it. Obviously the soccer is good and I really liked the way we play and all the other players were cool so it was a good fit.

Q: You and the entire team have had a really successful season so far. What kind of training did you do leading up to the start of the season?

A: The whole team stayed [on campus] over the summer. We ran, lifted and played every night. The fitness was really the key for me, that’s always been my biggest problem. I think the team is really all in this year which is the way we’re doing so good.

Q: How have things changed this year with Jamie Franks in his first season as head coach?

A: It’s definitely a lot more intense. He holds us all to higher standards, especially the older guys. Soccer-wise, it’s kind of the same since he’s been around for four years. I’d say it’s just more competitive really.

Q: What has it been like to be a part of a team that keeps breaking school history and is ranked so high nationally?

A: It feels good. Hopefully we can keep it up.

Denver plays Indiana University- Purdue University Fort Wayne on Nov. 7.