Seniors nationwide are gearing up for a popular second-semester phenomenon—this year’s senior Water Assassins game, and Oak Park High School students have taken it upon themselves to participate. Starting March 1 at midnight, round one of OPHS Water Assassins will begin for 43 daring teams.
In senior Water Assassins, teams are randomly assigning a target team to hunt and eliminate using water guns, with each successful shot requiring a video as evidence. Teams earn points for each target eliminated, and lose points for each member of their own team who is shot. Then the teams with the most points at the end of the round advance.
“Our team has a good strategy and a lot of information on the other teams, so, we are confident that we will get far,” senior Kirthi Paramasivan said.
Some teams, like Paramasivan’s, are going into the game with a predetermined plan and details on their opponent’s whereabouts. Others, like team Sea Monkeys, feel no need to draft a plan as they are completely confident in their skill sets.
“My team doesn’t necessarily have a game plan, but we have the talent to scope out other teams,“ senior Enzo Crivello from the Sea Monkeys said. “Also, I really don’t think anyone will want to come all the way out to where I live.”
In order for each team to participate in the event, they were required to pay a fee of $100 to the student event coordinator. The coordinator takes a cut of the total for their efforts in organizing teams, verifying video footage, running the social media and tallying points. The last team standing will win a $3,500 cash prize. Clearly, the stakes are high and so is the competition.
“We’ve been shopping for [water] guns for months now, so we are more than prepared for the battles to come,” seniors Joanna Hong and Haley Trang said. “You better believe our group has opps and enemies.”
Despite the competitive nature of the game, senior Water Assassins is, at its core, an activity to raise school spirit and give the seniors another chance to participate in something together as a community.
“I honestly just love how Water Assassins is bringing together the senior class,” senior Emma Coulter said.
This game is entirely student-run and is in no way endorsed or affiliated with Oak Park Unified School District. Participation in this game is strictly prohibited on school campuses, to and from school sponsored events and at the events themselves. Any students who violate this policy will face disciplinary action.
