The West Prairie Press

By Brecken Smith

The West Prairie senior class kicked off its annual Senior Assassin game March 22, turning everyday routines into strategic missions. The popular end-of-year tradition requires participants to wear goggles for protection, carry a water gun, download the Splashin app and pay a $5 entry fee. Each week, players are assigned a target and must eliminate them by spraying them with a water gun while they are not wearing goggles. Periodically, game administrators call a “purge,” allowing players to eliminate anyone—regardless of whether they are wearing goggles.

Senior Austin Nelson, one of this year’s game administrators, said the competition has been both exciting and fast-paced.

“I think it is going well, and I’m having fun,” Nelson said.

He emphasized the importance of acting quickly to stay competitive.

“While playing, I would recommend trying to get your target out as soon as you can because it makes the game way more fun,” Nelson said.

As the game narrows, strategy becomes even more critical. Senior Madelynn Sullivan, one of two remaining girls out of 8 players still in the game, said the final stretch has intensified the experience.

“It’s getting a lot harder knowing certain circumstances, but honestly, now that we are this close, I’m very excited to see how things will play out regarding who will win,” Sullivan said.

She noted that survival often comes down to consistency and smart decision-making.

“When it comes to staying in as long as you can, my number one thing is to wear your goggles everywhere, no matter what,” Sullivan said. “Find alliances so you can finally trust someone. And during purges, don’t try to get everyone—there are times when you need to play it safe and let others take risks.”

Even players who have been eliminated have advice to offer. Senior Maicyn Shipman, who was eliminated by senior Melodee Ford, said awareness is key to lasting in the game.

“The advice I would give younger students is to wear your goggles everywhere, watch your every move and hide out when there is a purge,” Shipman said.

She also encouraged players to advocate for fair play.

“If you think someone broke a rule, follow up with it,” Shipman said. “I think this year’s game is going well. It’s a little slow, and not everyone is following the rules, but it’s still a lot of fun.”

As of April 27, there are eight players left in the game.

The game will continue until only one player remains, raising the stakes as the number of competitors dwindles. As the competition continues, the remaining players must balance caution and boldness, because in Senior Assassin, one small mistake can end the game.