As has become a completely unsanctioned-and-even-actively-discouraged-by-the-school tradition, Lightridge seniors played the annual game of Senior Splashin’. After around a month of play, Bryn Overbaugh emerged as the last student standing.
The game consists of getting a random weekly target with the mission of eliminating them via water gun while also avoiding getting hit by the student stalking them. The game goes until one player is left. Goggles were the immunity of choice by the game wardens and if a player was wearing them, that player is safe from the wrath of the deadly water gun. However if a player breaks a rule (has location off, talks back to game wardens, or phone battery goes below 5%) then they are placed under a bounty and become a free target for anyone in the game.
Players found many creative ways to eliminate their target. After careful consideration and research, here are some of the top Splashin’ takedowns.
Round One: Katie Zipper eliminates Matts Bouldin
Right out of the gates Katie Zipper proved to be an ambitious competitor in this game. This was a high speed chase and Zipper tracked down Matts Bouldin in the dead of night by luring him out of his house with the help of his own mother.
“I texted his parents and asked them to get him to go outside, so then I made him take out the trash and then I pulled up to his house and got him while he was taking out the trash,” said Zipper.
Bouldin had a bounty on him, he had broken a rule, so he was vulnerable to any and all outside threats. And once the plan between Zipper and Mrs. Bouldin was formed to get Matts outside, there was no saving him.
“My mom yelled at me to take out the trash, and I was like ‘Mom, I can’t take out the trash. I have a bounty,” said Bouldin.
Round Two: Kevin McAfee eliminates Will Purev
Will (Po) Purev was just trying to enjoy a fun boys day out fishing with a friend at the Kirkpatrick Lake when suddenly tragedy struck in the form of Kevin (KJ) McAfee. Purev was also under a bounty but showed no fear as he refused to let the threat of elimination stop him from enjoying the day. **Side note – Purev had claimed he would go so far as to sleep in his car the round before to avoid getting out on a bounty.
“Were fishing… then I see him. There’s a red man in the distance running at me. I had two choices, an open field or the pathway, so I had to go into the field,” said Purev.
McAfee, stealthy as a ninja, had interrupted Purev’s peaceful afternoon, seizing the moment and adding another kill to his list.
“I really never planned,” said McAfee.
This kill was memorable because of the graceful exit made by Purev as he toppled into the grassy mounds.
Round Two: Cooper Gaull eliminates Reese Ayoub
Cooper Gaull AKA “The wigged killer” came back for vengeance after having to buy back into round 2 after previously getting eliminated by Nolan Brinker. Gaull, armed only with his water weapon and a clever disguise, creeped into where Reese Ayoub and Emily Ballon where having a private dinner to execute a clean takedown.
“I wanted a disguise because I didn’t want anyone to see me coming. So I got this ratty wig… I get my water bottle, I get my wig on, and then I run in,” said Gaull.
“I was very caught off guard because of the wig and he just came around the back while I was eating chips and salsa,” said Ayoub.
Check back for the second part of our series, the final five interview , where we will get a look inside the minds of final players Alex Csala, Bryn Overbaugh, Grant Alred, Jacky Martinez, and Nolan Brinker.
