What started as a game of water guns has quickly turned into a schoolwide event that connects seniors across friend groups through suspense, competition, and strategic thinking. Senior Assassin, a long standing high school tradition, is back this year under the leadership of senior Gabe Grosfeld and Henry Hamilton.
Senior Assassin is a massive game of competitive tag that lasts weeks. Each player is randomly assigned a specific target to ‘eliminate’ using water guns all while trying to avoid being tagged by their own assassin. The ultimate goal of the game is to be the last one standing and not get caught. The winner is awarded the pot money.
“I was actually handed down Senior Assassin from the organizers of last year’s game. It has been in my family for years so it felt like a tradition to carry on, but running it has been pretty fun so far,” said Grosfeld.
Leading Senior Assassin gives Grosfeld a great opportunity to experience how to manage a large group of students while continuing the long-standing senior tradition. As seniors get closer to finishing their final year of high school and move on to college, the game offers a break from academic stress and a chance to enjoy and cherish the final week together.
Being the senior assassin leader comes with a lot of responsibilities that Grosfeld takes pride in continuing.
“I have to keep track of everyone signing up, how much money is in the pot, text and assign everyone a target, promote every senior to sign up, and finally make sure everyone understands and follows the rules of the game,” Grosfeld said. “We use a generator to randomly assign people to make sure the game is fair and a surprise for everyone.”
Keeping targets anonymous allows players to meet and interact with classmates they may not normally talk to, helping strengthen connections across the senior class.
“I think the game really brings everyone together because not only is it a friendly competition, but you may get someone you’ve never talked to and it gives everyone a chance to connect,” said Grosfeld.
Many seniors have gotten targets that they have never heard of which makes the game a little harder, but connects back to bringing the senior class closer together.
“So far, I haven’t gotten out or anything. It’s really hard to find my target because I have no idea who they are. But, I think it’s exciting, and it brings fun to the senior class. And we’re all striving towards a common goal,” said Aria Cummings.
The game also has limits to ensure fairness, especially when it comes to cheating.
“If someone cheats or breaks the rules they will be disqualified but will have a chance to buy back into the game for the first three rounds. A player can only have two buybacks though.”
While the rules are enforced, Grosfeld emphasized that the goal of the long lasting tradition of Senior Assassin is for seniors to connect and enjoy one of their final shared experiences of high school.
“So far, I haven’t gotten out or anything. It’s really hard to find my target because I have no idea who they are. But, I think it’s exciting, and it brings fun to the senior class. And we’re all striving towards a common goal,” said Aria Cummings.
I’m just going to ask around and hope for the best. I’m not gonna, like, strip or anything, ’cause I just think that’s weird. I’m just gonna ask around. Hopefully my friends know some of their friends and then maybe I’ll get them, get them.
I don’t know who they are. I don’t know any of their friends.. Like, I literally had to, like, look them up on Instagram to find them. It was awesome.
“I’m kind of nervous. Like, I am walking, like, whenever I’m outside or anything, I’m kind of, like, looking over my shoulder. Yeah, I’m kind of worried that I’m being stalked. I get scared. Yeah, but I say strap, so it doesn’t matter,” said Cummings
