Screen capture from Instagram. Seniors Brooklyn Dye is defending herself against senior Dylan Jones during a "purge" at The Manhattan Town Center Mall parking lot.
Seniors at Rock Creek High School are plotting for a prize. Senior Splashin’ a recent tradition among seniors, kicked off last week and is a hot topic in every classroom. This is a student-led game that brings together the entire senior class by using water guns to “eliminate” targets that they are secretly assigned within the game. The game is played outside of school hours and is prohibited on school property. This game has captured the attention of family members, younger students, and teachers alike.
Sophia Wilds has taken on the role of being the administrator as well as a player. Part of her role requires that she assures everyone follows the rules, announces events like “purges” and plants the revivals.
“I definitely think it’s a lot harder than I thought, trying to manage everyone’s questions and make sure that I stay in the game,” Wilds said.
The pressure is real to stay in the game each week, a player must eliminate their target each round, as well as not getting out themselves. This means the player has to focus on their safety as well as their ability to advance to the next round. With the game comes the challenges of staying alert, thinking of creative ways to get to your target, and keeping your friends close but your watergun closer. Unfortunately, some of the players’ like senior Brynna Zoeller has already seen her journey come to an end.
“I’m really devastated that I got out, but I think it was pretty fun while it lasted,” Brynna Zoeller said.
The only way to avoid getting eliminated is by wearing a safety item, each week Wilds changes the safety item. Last week that item was goggles. Seniors like Aidan Torrey will have to think outside the box to be able to catch his targets without their safety item. The game calls for strategic tactics in order to win it all.
“It’s been really fun,” Aidan Torrey said, “but I hit a brick wall because my target always has her goggles on”.
For many players the game is more than just a competition. It is a way to bond with classmates, share some laughs and create some lasting memories. While getting out of the game can be frustrating, many eliminated players still remain involved helping with strategy or simply watching the drama unfold watching the uploaded video evidence on the Instagram account @rchs.senior_assassin26.
As the game continues in the coming weeks the competition is expected to become even more intense. With fewer players and unexpected twists and turns, only the most strategic and determined assassin will make their claim to the final prize money of $275.00. Until then seniors will be watching their backs and their water guns.