What Is Senior Splashin? A Trend In Sioux Falls High Schools

You may have noticed high school students in Sioux Falls dressed up a little funny lately. Some are spotted in fast food restaurants with inflatable arm floaties. Others are wearing goggles. You might be thinking, did I miss a flood warning?? What's going on? When asked, students may be hesitant to talk about it. It's part of the game. Be stealthy and stay low-key.

I talked to a senior - who did not want to be identified - to get the low-down on the game. He did not want to identify his high school but said, "I think every high school in Sioux Falls is in on it."

What is this game?

It's called Senior Splashin'. It has other names as well including Senior Assassin or Senior Water Wars. It's a popular tradition among high school seniors played in the months leading up to graduation.

How it's played:

High school seniors download the Senior Splashin' app. The senior pays a $5 entry fee. This will bring the total winning potential to $400 - $500, depending on the size of the class. The last survivor gets it all so there is big money on the line for the winner.

The goal is to eliminate your assigned target with a water gun. Each HS senior is randomly given a target from their class. Once they successfully "splash" their target with a water gun, they receive a new target and the "splashed" or "assassinated" target is eliminated. However, if the target is wearing arm floaties or swim goggles they are protected. That's why people have been spotting oddly dressed high school seniors in Sioux Falls.

Within the app, the student must allow themselves to be "tracked" using exact location permission at all times. So, while picking up dog food at HyVee for the parents, their "assassin" knows exactly where they are and may try to eliminate them in the store or in the parking lot. Another rule is that everybody is safe while on school grounds, but after that, you're fair game.

This continues until there is only one person left, and that student will claim the money.

The game also offers side challenges, such as a "purge."

"During normal play, floaties and goggles protect you from being "assassinated" or "splashed", but when a Purge happens, these things cannot protect you from your assassin." ~ shady looking high school senior

I asked if he had any strategy, and he replied,

"Form an alliance. Don't go to the same place twice. Learn your target's habits and stay alert. The end may be near."

Before this goggle-wearing senior slipped back into the shadows, he added, "I know a guy who just had a bounty placed on him." I asked what that meant. He replied, "Anybody can get him now. He's toast."

Sounds deep. Good luck, Seniors!