Armed with water guns and shielded by floaties and goggles, seniors are beginning their annual game of Water Wars.

Water Wars, a senior tradition, is not associated with Frisco ISD and is run by former participants and parents through an app called Splashin.

Seniors form groups with three to four friends and each week are assigned a target team to eliminate using water guns. The only protection allowed is water goggles and floaties. If players remove them, they lose their protection.

“It’s a little scary because, in the app, you can get a premium version where you see your targets’ live locations, so that part is a little creepy,” senior Aashi Shah said. “But it’s also kind of fun seeing what people are up to after school and trying to get someone out at a Walmart or at a gym.”

During a purge event, teams are able to target anyone and no safety items are allowed. Seniors have contributed to a cash prize of more than 900 dollars, making the competition even more intense. 

On the flip side, Water Wars has also given seniors a chance to hang out and connect with people outside their normal friend groups through the game’s group chat, which has more than 140 members.

“So during the purge, I’m definitely going after the people who are hating on me,” senior Maryam Aggour said. “Because a lot of people—there’s a group chat with all the seniors and it’s getting really heated in there—a lot of people are going to target me, but I’m going to get them.”