The senior class has officially entered Senior Assassin season, where water guns, goggles, and careful planning have become part of daily life. Since the game began on March 2 with 131 participants, six players have already been eliminated in the first two days.
Senior Assassin challenges students to eliminate their assigned opponents using water guns while avoiding elimination themselves. Participants were allowed to enter as individuals or teams of two, and each person paid a $5 entry fee to join the competition. Once the game began, teams were locked in for the rest of the competition, and the last remaining player or team wins the entire prize money collected from the entry fees.
A player is considered eliminated if they are clearly hit with water by their assigned opponent while not visibly wearing safety equipment. To avoid disputes, every elimination must be recorded and uploaded to the Splashin app as video proof. If there is any disagreement about whether an elimination counts, the final decision is made by the class president. Johnny Escobar (12), who is in charge of the game, said the proof system helps keep the competition fair for everyone involved.
“The video just helps make sure everything is clear and there aren’t any arguments about what happened,” Escobar said.
Players do have ways to protect themselves. Participants are safe from elimination when they are visibly wearing swimming goggles on their head or pool floaties, but the equipment must be clearly visible at all times. Wearing goggles under a hoodie or hiding floaties under a jacket does not count as protection.
Although the game encourages competition and strategy, several rules were created to make sure it stays safe and respectful. Players cannot be eliminated on church property, inside school gates during school hours, or during school games and practices. Students are also safe while they are working as long as they are clocked in, although they can still be eliminated in the parking lot once they are off the clock. Escobar emphasized that following the rule is important for the game to run smoothly.
“Everyone knows where the safe areas are, so as long as people respect that it keeps things fun for everybody,” Escobar said.
To protect privacy, players are not allowed to enter anyone’s home under any circumstances. Entering an opponent’s house results in automatic self-elimination. However, players are allowed on the opponent’s porch or lawn as long as they do not go any farther.
The game moves quickly, with players’ locations resetting every ten minutes to keep players alert and constantly checking their surroundings. Toward the end of the competition, players will be introduced to “Purge Days,” when safety equipment will no longer protect players from elimination. These days will be announced one day in advance, making the final stages of the game even more intense.
“Purge Days are when things will probably get a lot more competitive because no one will really be safe,” Escobar said.
Even though the game has only just begun, it has already brought excitement and friendly competition to the senior class. With more than a hundred players still in the game and the full prize money on the line, seniors will continue keeping their eyes open for their opponents and making sure their goggles and water guns are always on hand.
