"Arnie" was a standout in baseball, basketball, and football at Parma Sr. He was a two-time All-LEL and two-time All-District selection in baseball and a three-time All-LEL honoree in football. He was the LEL MVP and the Cleveland Touchdown Club Player of the Year in football in 1960. He earned All-State honors in football and in baseball. Arnie received three letters in baseball and three letters in football while attending The Ohio State University. In baseball, he was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and NCAA All-American. In football for the Buckeyes, he was a three-year starting defensive back, earning both All-Big Ten and NCAA All-American honors in 1964. He played in the 1965 East-West Shrine Game. Arnie won numerous Scholar-Athlete awards during his career, including two-time All-Academic Big Ten and two-time Academic All-American honors. Arnie was named to the Ohio State All-Century team in both football and baseball and was elected to the OSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

He was selected in both the professional baseball and football drafts but decided to enter the OSU Medical School instead. An accomplished medical doctor, Dr. Chonko was presented the University of Kansas Honorary Alumnus Award for 2007.

Chonko is a charter member of the Parma Senior High School Athletic Hall of Fame, inducted in 2007.