As the final bell rings on the first Friday of March, something shifts in the senior class. It’s not just the anticipation of graduation, prom, or even spring break, it’s the start of senior assassins. The moment the game officially begins, with 130 seniors, water guns are stashed in car consoles, and social media goes dark as players vanish into stealth mode.
For many students, Senior Assassins is more than a game. It’s a shared experience that marks the countdown to the end of high school. Each year, it transforms classmates into rivals and neighborhoods into battle grounds. The strategy, suspense, and occasional chaos make it one of the most talked about traditions of senior year.
“I’m not very stressed about the game, but I am excited to see who wins,” said senior Sadie Moss.
The feuds are simple, but the stakes feel anything but.
Each senior who wants to participate signs up and pays an entry fee, which goes toward a cash prize for the winners. Participants are randomly assigned targets. Seniors eliminate their opponents using water guns. Once a target is eliminated, the player has the option to take on their target’s target.
Safe zones are agreed upon before the game begins; school grounds, religious buildings, and prom are off-limits.
Senior assassins is run by two students who track eliminations, settle disputes, and keep the game moving. This year, the students running it are seniors Jack Cook and Ryan Gehrig. Updates are posted on social media, where players can watch eliminations and keep an eye on who’s still in the game.
“We try to stick by our original rules,” said senior game master Jack Cook. “[We] try to keep any bias out of our decisions.”
In Senior Assassins, paranoia is part of the fun. Every trip to the grocery store, every walk to a car, every random knock at the door becomes suspicious. Seniors become detectives, stalkers, and escape artists, all rolled into one.
“Trust no one,” said senior Brandon Kirk. “It’s every man for themselves.”
Some players go to great lengths to stay in the game. From hiding in car trunks to sleeping in friends’ houses for the night, staying dry becomes a 24/7 mission.
Because the game is not school-sponsored, it happens entirely outside of school property. It’s the responsibility of students to make good choices and organizers to set clear boundaries.
“This game is NOT to be played on school grounds or at school events,” said Dr. Katie Bonemma in the weekly newsletter sent out to BV West parents.
Misunderstandings do happen. Sometimes, neighbors report suspicious activity when they see teens creeping around with water guns. On a popular app called Next Door, adults warn neighbors that teenagers are running around with water guns and sneaking into backyards.
In previous years, miscommunications with dangerous outcomes have occurred; it is easy to mistake a toy gun for a real gun. On May 11, 2024, in Wichita, Kan., a student was shot by another student’s dad in what was thought to be self-defense. The student was paralyzed, and the adult was charged for attempted first-degree murder.
At BV West, assassins carry on due to tradition and enjoyment.
Every year, a few stories stand out: ridiculous, iconic, or heart-wrenching moments that become part of class lore.
Senior Maya Edwards had one such kill on Kelsie Gana in round one. Edwards set up a fake page selling clothes and eliminated Gana when she arrived to pick up her items.
There were near misses, too. After picking up Chick-fil-A, senior Liv Schaffer couldn’t open her front door quickly enough and Maddie Mudge was eliminated by Harrison Eibes.
“I set up my target [in the] first round and got him out,” said Moss.
It’s not all heartbreak. These moments become inside jokes, screenshots, and shared memories that define senior Spring.
Social media has given the game a life of its own. Daily updates and elimination videos.
Snapchat has become a spy tool. Players hide their Snap Maps, delete mutual friends, or create decoy accounts. Instagram DMs are used to coordinate assignments. The game becomes entertainment, not just for seniors but for the student body.
Seniors develop pacts or fake rivals to throw people off their trails. Every week, a new drama emerges, with betrayals, double crosses, and surprise alliances.
As of the second week of April, 33 people remain. For those who make it to the end, it’s not just about winning the money, it’s about the pride of surviving the most stressful, chaotic, and hilarious tradition of senior year.
When it’s all over, and the last splash has been made, players come back together to laugh about the game they lived for weeks.
No matter how it ends, Senior Assassin is unforgettable.